CVE-2019-8942
WordPress before 4.9.9 and 5.x before 5.0.1 allows remote code execution because an _wp_attached_file Post Meta entry can be changed to an arbitrary string, such as one ending with a .jpg?file.php substring.
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 82.7%, higher than 100% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
WordPress before 4.9.9 and 5.x before 5.0.1 allows remote code execution because an _wp_attached_file Post Meta entry can be changed to an arbitrary string, such as one ending with a .jpg?file.php substring. An attacker with author privileges can execute arbitrary code by uploading a crafted image containing PHP code in the Exif metadata. Exploitation can leverage CVE-2019-8943.
- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 82.74% probability · 100th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 1 March 2019
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-434
- Affected
- wordpress/wordpress · debian/debian linux
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS moved from 92.7% on 21 September 2026 to 82.7% on 26 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (2)
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://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152396/WordPress-5.0.0-crop-image-Shell-Upload.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/wp_crop_rceExploit, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/107088Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://blog.ripstech.com/2019/wordpress-image-remote-code-execution/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/03/msg00044.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9222Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4401Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46511/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46662/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152396/WordPress-5.0.0-crop-image-Shell-Upload.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/wp_crop_rceExploit, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/107088Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://blog.ripstech.com/2019/wordpress-image-remote-code-execution/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/03/msg00044.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9222Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4401Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46511/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46662/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.