CVE-2018-12895
WordPress through 4.9.6 allows Author users to execute arbitrary code by leveraging directory traversal in the wp-admin/post.php thumb parameter, which is passed to the PHP unlink function and can delete the wp-config.php file.
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 62.2%, higher than 99% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
WordPress through 4.9.6 allows Author users to execute arbitrary code by leveraging directory traversal in the wp-admin/post.php thumb parameter, which is passed to the PHP unlink function and can delete the wp-config.php file. This is related to missing filename validation in the wp-includes/post.php wp_delete_attachment function. The attacker must have capabilities for files and posts that are normally available only to the Author, Editor, and Administrator roles. The attack methodology is to delete wp-config.php and then launch a new installation process to increase the attacker's privileges.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 62.16% probability · 99th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-22
- Affected
- wordpress/wordpress · debian/debian linux
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 62.2% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164633/WordPress-4.9.6-Arbitrary-File-Deletion.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104569Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://blog.ripstech.com/2018/wordpress-file-delete-to-code-execution/Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00046.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9100Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4250Third Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164633/WordPress-4.9.6-Arbitrary-File-Deletion.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104569Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://blog.ripstech.com/2018/wordpress-file-delete-to-code-execution/Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00046.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9100Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4250Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.