The wp_ajax_update_plugin function in wp-admin/includes/ajax-actions.php in WordPress before 4.6 makes a get_plugin_data call before checking the update_plugins capability, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended read-access restrictions via the plugin parameter to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, a related issue to CVE-2016-6896
Published Jan 18, 2017
4.3
MEDIUMCVSS 3.0
EPSS 1.64%
Description
The wp_ajax_update_plugin function in wp-admin/includes/ajax-actions.php in WordPress before 4.6 makes a get_plugin_data call before checking the update_plugins capability, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended read-access restrictions via the plugin parameter to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, a related issue to CVE-2016-6896.
Affected products
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (13 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 1.64% (0.01641) | 75.52th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 1.64% (0.01641) | 73.22th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 0.49% (0.00490) | 62.78th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 3.83% (0.03827) | 79.99th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 24, 2025 | 0.49% (0.00490) | 62.86th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 23, 2025 | 3.83% (0.03827) | 85.96th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.49% (0.00490) | 63.51th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.09% (0.00093) | 41.34th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.09% (0.00093) | 38.11th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.13% (0.01132) | 56.11th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Sep 22, 2022 | 1.13% (0.01132) | 54.59th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.13% (0.01132) | 52.58th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.13% (0.01132) | 30.65th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (5)
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/08/20/1 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96847 vdb-entryx_refsource_BID
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/38168 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatch
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/37490 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking
- https://sumofpwn.nl/advisory/2016/path_traversal_vulnerability_in_wordpress_core_ajax_handlers.html x_refsource_MISCTechnical DescriptionThird Party Advisory
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/08/20/1 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96847 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BID | |
| https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/38168 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatch | |
| https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/37490 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking | |
| https://sumofpwn.nl/advisory/2016/path_traversal_vulnerability_in_wordpress_core_ajax_handlers.html | x_refsource_MISCTechnical DescriptionThird Party Advisory |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.