CVE-2017-8295
WordPress through 4.7.4 relies on the Host HTTP header for a password-reset e-mail message, which makes it easier for remote attackers to reset arbitrary passwords by making a crafted wp-login.php?action=lostpassword request and then arranging for this…
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 26.7%, higher than 98% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
WordPress through 4.7.4 relies on the Host HTTP header for a password-reset e-mail message, which makes it easier for remote attackers to reset arbitrary passwords by making a crafted wp-login.php?action=lostpassword request and then arranging for this message to bounce or be resent, leading to transmission of the reset key to a mailbox on an attacker-controlled SMTP server. This is related to problematic use of the SERVER_NAME variable in wp-includes/pluggable.php in conjunction with the PHP mail function. Exploitation is not achievable in all cases because it requires at least one of the following: (1) the attacker can prevent the victim from receiving any e-mail messages for an extended period of time (such as 5 days), (2) the victim's e-mail system sends an autoresponse containing the original message, or (3) the victim manually composes a reply containing the original message.
- CVSS 3.0
- 5.9 MEDIUMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- EPSS
- 26.70% probability · 98th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · first 3 May 2017
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-640
- Affected
- wordpress/wordpress
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS moved from 21.3% on 21 September 2026 to 26.7% on 27 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3870
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98295Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038403
- https://exploitbox.io/vuln/WordPress-Exploit-4-7-Unauth-Password-Reset-0day-CVE-2017-8295.htmlExploit, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8807
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41963/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3870
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98295Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038403
- https://exploitbox.io/vuln/WordPress-Exploit-4-7-Unauth-Password-Reset-0day-CVE-2017-8295.htmlExploit, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8807
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41963/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.