CVE-2026-119977
WordPress WordPress Core Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 6 November 2026). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
WordPress Core is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in versions 4.7 through 7.1.3. This is due to predictable, web-accessible staging paths used during full-package core upgrades. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to execute code on the server during the upgrade window.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.60% probability · 49th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Listed 3 November 2026 · due 6 November 2026
- Weakness
- CWE-367
- Source
- security@wordfence.com
EPSS moved from 0.6% on 31 October 2026 to 0.6% on 3 November 2026.
CISA notes
Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines. https://wordpress.org/news/2026/10/wordpress-7-1-4 ; https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-core/wordpress-core-470-713-unauthenticated-upgrade-window-staged-installer-remote-code-execution ; BOD 26-04: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; Forensics Triage Requirements: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-119977
References
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.3/src/wp-admin/includes/class-core-upgrader.php#L162
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.3/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-upgrader.php#L378
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.3/src/wp-admin/includes/update-core.php#L1549
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.3/src/wp-admin/setup-config.php#L282
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.4/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-upgrader.php#L346
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.4/src/wp-admin/includes/update-core.php#L1545
- https://wordpress.org/news/2026/10/wordpress-7-1-4/
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4b4da0cf-d9f4-47c4-a0e8-6c4dc5a6f250?source=cve
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-119977
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-core/wordpress-core-470-713-unauthenticated-upgrade-window-staged-installer-remote-code-execution
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.