HIGH
Directory traversal vulnerability in the wp_ajax_update_plugin function in wp-admin/includes/ajax-actions.php in WordPress 4.5.3 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service or read certain text files via a .
Published Jan 18, 2017
7.1
HIGHCVSS 3.0
EPSS 38.07%
Description
Directory traversal vulnerability in the wp_ajax_update_plugin function in wp-admin/includes/ajax-actions.php in WordPress 4.5.3 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service or read certain text files via a .. (dot dot) in the plugin parameter to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, as demonstrated by /dev/random read operations that deplete the entropy pool.
Affected products
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
7.1 HIGH NVD
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H
Attack Vector Network
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required Low
User Interaction None
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality Impact Low
Integrity Impact None
Availability Impact High
5.5 MEDIUM NVD
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:P
Access Vector Network
Access Complexity Low
Authentication Single
Confidentiality Impact Partial
Integrity Impact None
Availability Impact Partial
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
38.07% 0.38068
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
EPSS probability 0.38068
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 (49 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 38.07% (0.38068) | 98.51th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 22, 2026 | 38.07% (0.38068) | 98.49th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 21, 2026 | 31.09% (0.31094) | 98.23th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 6, 2026 | 38.07% (0.38068) | 98.46th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 31.09% (0.31094) | 98.19th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 30, 2026 | 38.07% (0.38068) | 98.45th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 28, 2026 | 31.09% (0.31094) | 98.18th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 24, 2026 | 38.07% (0.38068) | 98.44th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 23, 2026 | 31.42% (0.31424) | 98.19th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 38.45% (0.38445) | 98.38th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 35.18% (0.35182) | 96.98th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 4, 2026 | 37.10% (0.37104) | 97.08th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 1, 2026 | 25.57% (0.25570) | 96.14th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 4, 2026 | 37.10% (0.37104) | 97.05th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 1, 2026 | 25.57% (0.25570) | 96.11th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 4, 2026 | 37.10% (0.37104) | 97.02th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 1, 2026 | 25.57% (0.25570) | 96.09th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 4, 2025 | 37.10% (0.37104) | 96.98th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 1, 2025 | 25.57% (0.25570) | 96.05th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 13, 2025 | 37.10% (0.37104) | 96.98th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 39.72% (0.39717) | 97.13th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 1, 2025 | 27.82% (0.27816) | 96.26th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 9, 2025 | 39.72% (0.39717) | 97.13th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 4, 2025 | 24.30% (0.24299) | 95.89th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 17.64% (0.17639) | 94.89th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 4, 2025 | 23.64% (0.23640) | 95.79th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 1, 2025 | 17.11% (0.17109) | 94.78th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 4, 2025 | 23.64% (0.23640) | 95.76th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 1, 2025 | 17.11% (0.17109) | 94.77th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 4, 2025 | 24.30% (0.24299) | 95.83th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 1, 2025 | 17.64% (0.17639) | 94.82th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 4, 2025 | 24.30% (0.24299) | 95.79th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 1, 2025 | 17.64% (0.17639) | 94.78th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 4, 2025 | 24.30% (0.24299) | 95.75th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 1, 2025 | 17.64% (0.17639) | 94.75th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 24.30% (0.24299) | 95.63th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 45.80% (0.45797) | 96.49th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 24, 2025 | 24.30% (0.24299) | 95.60th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 23, 2025 | 33.92% (0.33916) | 96.47th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 24.30% (0.24299) | 95.63th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 17, 2024 | 9.71% (0.09712) | 94.80th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Aug 22, 2023 | 32.65% (0.32651) | 96.46th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 5, 2023 | 34.86% (0.34858) | 96.50th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Apr 24, 2023 | 33.48% (0.33478) | 96.42th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 40.06% (0.40061) | 96.61th | 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) |
Weaknesses (1)
References (5)
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/08/20/1 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036683 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK
- https://sumofpwn.nl/advisory/2016/path_traversal_vulnerability_in_wordpress_core_ajax_handlers.html x_refsource_MISCExploitTechnical DescriptionThird Party Advisory
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8606 x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40288/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/08/20/1 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036683 | vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK | |
| https://sumofpwn.nl/advisory/2016/path_traversal_vulnerability_in_wordpress_core_ajax_handlers.html | x_refsource_MISCExploitTechnical DescriptionThird Party Advisory | |
| https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8606 | x_refsource_MISC | |
| https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40288/ | exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.
Sources
CVE.org / MITRE
Status PUBLISHED
Assigner mitre
Published Jan 18, 2017
Updated Aug 6, 2024
Reserved Aug 22, 2016
Link CVE-2016-6896
CISA Vulnrichment
Updated n/a