WordPress through 4.7.4 relies on the Host HTTP header for a password-reset e-mail message, which makes it easier for remote attackers to reset arbitrary passwords by making a crafted wp-login.php?action=lostpassword request and then arranging for this message to bounce or be resent, leading to transmission of the reset key to a mailbox on an attacker-controlled SMTP server
Published May 4, 2017
5.9
MEDIUMCVSS 3.0
EPSS 26.70%
Description
WordPress through 4.7.4 relies on the Host HTTP header for a password-reset e-mail message, which makes it easier for remote attackers to reset arbitrary passwords by making a crafted wp-login.php?action=lostpassword request and then arranging for this message to bounce or be resent, leading to transmission of the reset key to a mailbox on an attacker-controlled SMTP server. This is related to problematic use of the SERVER_NAME variable in wp-includes/pluggable.php in conjunction with the PHP mail function. Exploitation is not achievable in all cases because it requires at least one of the following: (1) the attacker can prevent the victim from receiving any e-mail messages for an extended period of time (such as 5 days), (2) the victim's e-mail system sends an autoresponse containing the original message, or (3) the victim manually composes a reply containing the original message.
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:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (55 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 26.70% (0.26699) | 97.97th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 22, 2026 | 26.70% (0.26699) | 97.93th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 21, 2026 | 21.28% (0.21276) | 97.54th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 6, 2026 | 26.70% (0.26699) | 97.89th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 21.28% (0.21276) | 97.49th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 30, 2026 | 26.70% (0.26699) | 97.88th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 28, 2026 | 21.28% (0.21276) | 97.47th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 24, 2026 | 26.70% (0.26699) | 97.87th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 23, 2026 | 21.28% (0.21276) | 97.47th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 26.70% (0.26699) | 97.76th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 13, 2026 | 78.40% (0.78400) | 99.06th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 4, 2026 | 77.10% (0.77097) | 98.94th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 1, 2026 | 79.12% (0.79117) | 99.05th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 10, 2026 | 77.10% (0.77097) | 98.93th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 4, 2026 | 67.42% (0.67424) | 98.52th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 1, 2026 | 70.33% (0.70334) | 98.65th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 4, 2026 | 67.42% (0.67424) | 98.50th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 1, 2026 | 70.33% (0.70334) | 98.64th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 28, 2025 | 67.42% (0.67424) | 98.50th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 27, 2025 | 60.22% (0.60221) | 98.20th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 18, 2025 | 67.42% (0.67424) | 98.50th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 4, 2025 | 68.94% (0.68937) | 98.55th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 1, 2025 | 71.72% (0.71723) | 98.68th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 21, 2025 | 68.94% (0.68937) | 98.55th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 76.11% (0.76109) | 99.00th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 68.94% (0.68937) | 98.55th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 1, 2025 | 71.72% (0.71723) | 98.68th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 28, 2025 | 68.94% (0.68937) | 98.55th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 27, 2025 | 61.98% (0.61983) | 98.26th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 4, 2025 | 68.94% (0.68937) | 98.58th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 71.72% (0.71723) | 98.69th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 4, 2025 | 61.98% (0.61983) | 98.29th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 1, 2025 | 65.28% (0.65284) | 98.44th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 4, 2025 | 61.98% (0.61983) | 98.26th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 1, 2025 | 65.28% (0.65284) | 98.41th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 30, 2025 | 61.98% (0.61983) | 98.26th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 4, 2025 | 67.01% (0.67006) | 98.45th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 1, 2025 | 69.95% (0.69949) | 98.59th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 4, 2025 | 67.01% (0.67006) | 98.43th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 1, 2025 | 69.95% (0.69949) | 98.58th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 4, 2025 | 67.01% (0.67006) | 98.43th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 1, 2025 | 69.95% (0.69949) | 98.57th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 67.00% (0.67002) | 98.43th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 24, 2025 | 6.69% (0.06693) | 93.85th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Dec 17, 2024 | 8.69% (0.08687) | 94.50th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 2.80% (0.02804) | 91.01th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 26, 2024 | 2.62% (0.02620) | 90.40th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 19, 2023 | 2.83% (0.02827) | 89.44th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 3.55% (0.03548) | 90.14th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 23.48% (0.23476) | 96.71th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 23.48% (0.23476) | 94.78th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 7.69% (0.07689) | 84.25th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 7.69% (0.07689) | 84.10th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 7.69% (0.07689) | 91.54th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 7.69% (0.07689) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (6)
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3870 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIAN
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98295 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038403 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK
- https://exploitbox.io/vuln/WordPress-Exploit-4-7-Unauth-Password-Reset-0day-CVE-2017-8295.html x_refsource_MISCExploitTechnical DescriptionThird Party Advisory
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8807 x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41963/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party Advisory
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3870 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIAN | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98295 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038403 | vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK | |
| https://exploitbox.io/vuln/WordPress-Exploit-4-7-Unauth-Password-Reset-0day-CVE-2017-8295.html | x_refsource_MISCExploitTechnical DescriptionThird Party Advisory | |
| https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8807 | x_refsource_MISC | |
| https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41963/ | exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party Advisory |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.