Authenticated XSS via media attachment page in WordPress
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 28/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 3.2% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 88.2% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. A user must open a link or visit a page. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: WordPress wordpress-develop 5.4.2.
Low priority for now. Upgrade to WordPress wordpress-develop 5.4.2 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
In affected versions of WordPress, authenticated users with upload permissions (like authors) are able to inject JavaScript into some media file attachment pages in a certain way. This can lead to script execution in the context of a higher privileged user when the file is viewed by them. This has been patched in version 5.4.2, along with all the previously affected versions via a minor release (5.3.4, 5.2.7, 5.1.6, 5.0.10, 4.9.15, 4.8.14, 4.7.18, 4.6.19, 4.5.22, 4.4.23, 4.3.24, 4.2.28, 4.1.31, 4.0.31, 3.9.32, 3.8.34, 3.7.34).
- Published
- Jun 12, 2020
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 3.2% · 88th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-80
Report tools
Action score
28
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 27 / 40 · 6.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 3.2%
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 6.8
- CNA · GitHub_M
- 6.8
- agree
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
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Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| wordpress | wordpress | cpe:2.3:a:wordpress:wordpress |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
Using wordpress? Add it to your stack and be the first to know about CVEs like this one. (WordPress)
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- wordpress wordpress3.7 and later · before 3.7.34
- wordpress wordpress3.8 and later · before 3.8.34
- wordpress wordpress3.9 and later · before 3.9.32
- wordpress wordpress4.0 and later · before 4.0.31
- wordpress wordpress4.1 and later · before 4.1.31
- wordpress wordpress4.2 and later · before 4.2.28
- wordpress wordpress4.3 and later · before 4.3.24
- wordpress wordpress4.4 and later · before 4.4.23
- wordpress wordpress4.5 and later · before 4.5.22
- wordpress wordpress4.6 and later · before 4.6.19
- wordpress wordpress4.7 and later · before 4.7.18
- wordpress wordpress4.8 and later · before 4.8.14
- wordpress wordpress4.9 and later · before 4.9.15
- wordpress wordpress5.0 and later · before 5.0.10
- wordpress wordpress5.1 and later · before 5.1.6
- wordpress wordpress5.2 and later · before 5.2.7
- wordpress wordpress5.3.0 and later · before 5.3.4
- wordpress wordpress5.4 and later · before 5.4.2
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
WordPress wordpress-develop
- >= 5.4.0, < 5.4.2, >= 5.3.0, < 5.3.4, >= 5.2.0, < 5.2.7, >= 5.1.0, < 5.1.6, >= 5.0.0, < 5.0.10, >= 4.9.0, < 4.9.15, >= 4.8.0, < 4.8.14, >= 4.7.0, < 4.7.18, >= 4.6.0, < 4.6.19, >= 4.5.0, < 4.5.22, >= 4.4.0, < 4.4.23, >= 4.3.0, < 4.3.24 … (+6)affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:10 | wordpress | before 5.0.10+dfsg1-0+deb10u1 | 5.0.10+dfsg1-0+deb10u1 |
| Debian:12 | wordpress | before 5.4.2+dfsg1-1 | 5.4.2+dfsg1-1 |
| Debian:8 | wordpress | before 4.1.31+dfsg-0+deb8u1 | 4.1.31+dfsg-0+deb8u1 |
| Debian:9 | wordpress | before 4.7.18+dfsg-1+deb9u1 | 4.7.18+dfsg-1+deb9u1 |
Same product
wordpress: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2026-87902An unauthenticated attacker can make `get_page_template()` page-template resolution include a chosen readable local `.php` file outside the KEV74This week
- CVE-2026-63030WordPress < 7.0.2 - REST API batch-route confusion and SQL injection issue leading to Remote Code ExecutionKEV72This week
- CVE-2026-60137WordPress < 7.0.2 - Facilitated SQL Injection via author__not_in in WP_QueryKEV60This week
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2020-11030Apr 30, 2020 · Cross-site scripting (XSS) in Search block in WordPress21Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2020-4046Jun 12, 2020 · Authenticated XSS through embed block in WordPress22Monitor
- Later →CVE-2020-4048Jun 12, 2020 · Open redirect in wp_validate_redirect() in WordPress23Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress wordpress-develop | 5.4.2 · description | Vendor (CNA) |
| debian:wordpress | 5.4.2+dfsg1-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- none
Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-80 · Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS)CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (7 more)Show less
- github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/GHSA-8q2w-5m27-wm27
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/07/msg00000.html
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/09/msg00011.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/773N2ZV7QEMBGKH6FBKI6Q5S3YJMW357/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ODNHXVJS25YVWYQHOCICXTLIN5UYJFDN/
- wordpress.org/news/2020/06/wordpress-5-4-2-security-and-maintenance-release/
- www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4709
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.