WordPress through 4.9.6 allows Author users to execute arbitrary code by leveraging directory traversal in the wp-admin/post.php thumb parameter, which is passed to the PHP unlink function and can delete the wp-config.php file
Published Jun 26, 2018
8.8
HIGHCVSS 3.1
EPSS 62.16%
Description
WordPress through 4.9.6 allows Author users to execute arbitrary code by leveraging directory traversal in the wp-admin/post.php thumb parameter, which is passed to the PHP unlink function and can delete the wp-config.php file. This is related to missing filename validation in the wp-includes/post.php wp_delete_attachment function. The attacker must have capabilities for files and posts that are normally available only to the Author, Editor, and Administrator roles. The attack methodology is to delete wp-config.php and then launch a new installation process to increase the attacker's privileges.
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 2
- 8.0
- 9.0
No data.
No Red Hat product state for this CVE.
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
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 (62 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 62.16% (0.62162) | 99.16th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 62.56% (0.62558) | 99.08th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 4, 2026 | 89.02% (0.89023) | 99.52th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 1, 2026 | 87.46% (0.87462) | 99.45th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 4, 2026 | 89.02% (0.89023) | 99.51th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 1, 2026 | 87.46% (0.87462) | 99.45th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 4, 2026 | 88.90% (0.88902) | 99.50th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 1, 2026 | 87.31% (0.87307) | 99.43th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 28, 2025 | 88.90% (0.88902) | 99.50th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 27, 2025 | 87.85% (0.87852) | 99.45th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 4, 2025 | 88.90% (0.88902) | 99.49th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 1, 2025 | 87.31% (0.87307) | 99.42th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 21, 2025 | 88.90% (0.88902) | 99.49th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 81.63% (0.81627) | 99.26th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 4, 2025 | 88.90% (0.88902) | 99.49th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 1, 2025 | 87.31% (0.87307) | 99.42th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 28, 2025 | 88.90% (0.88902) | 99.49th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 27, 2025 | 87.85% (0.87852) | 99.44th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 8, 2025 | 88.90% (0.88902) | 99.50th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 4, 2025 | 46.20% (0.46195) | 97.56th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 25.64% (0.25638) | 96.07th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 19, 2025 | 39.39% (0.39392) | 97.21th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 4, 2025 | 36.51% (0.36512) | 97.02th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 1, 2025 | 20.45% (0.20448) | 95.36th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 4, 2025 | 36.51% (0.36512) | 96.97th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 1, 2025 | 20.45% (0.20448) | 95.35th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 30, 2025 | 36.51% (0.36512) | 96.97th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 4, 2025 | 40.71% (0.40714) | 97.21th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 1, 2025 | 23.66% (0.23658) | 95.74th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 4, 2025 | 40.71% (0.40714) | 97.19th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 1, 2025 | 23.66% (0.23658) | 95.71th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 4, 2025 | 40.71% (0.40714) | 97.16th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 1, 2025 | 23.66% (0.23658) | 95.67th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 41.13% (0.41129) | 97.11th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 65.23% (0.65232) | 97.89th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 28, 2025 | 41.13% (0.41129) | 97.11th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 27, 2025 | 60.26% (0.60261) | 98.01th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 24, 2025 | 47.72% (0.47715) | 97.45th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 23, 2025 | 60.26% (0.60261) | 98.06th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 21, 2025 | 47.72% (0.47715) | 97.48th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 20, 2025 | 54.15% (0.54154) | 97.83th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 19, 2025 | 65.82% (0.65821) | 98.33th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 54.15% (0.54154) | 97.76th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 17, 2024 | 42.14% (0.42142) | 97.37th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 11, 2024 | 45.74% (0.45739) | 97.45th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 5, 2024 | 53.46% (0.53461) | 97.55th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| May 5, 2024 | 73.37% (0.73365) | 98.08th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jan 20, 2024 | 82.32% (0.82323) | 98.13th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Dec 27, 2023 | 85.57% (0.85567) | 98.27th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Nov 17, 2023 | 88.13% (0.88125) | 98.37th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Oct 26, 2023 | 90.94% (0.90943) | 98.51th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 8, 2023 | 93.44% (0.93444) | 98.68th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| May 8, 2023 | 92.88% (0.92879) | 98.52th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 93.44% (0.93444) | 98.50th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 21.65% (0.21647) | 96.57th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 21.65% (0.21647) | 96.29th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 21.65% (0.21647) | 94.24th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 10.45% (0.10445) | 87.57th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 10.45% (0.10445) | 87.43th | v1 |
| Oct 26, 2021 | 10.45% (0.10445) | 95.16th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 9.08% (0.09079) | 93.76th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 9.08% (0.09079) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (6)
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164633/WordPress-4.9.6-Arbitrary-File-Deletion.html x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104569 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://blog.ripstech.com/2018/wordpress-file-delete-to-code-execution/ x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00046.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9100 x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4250 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164633/WordPress-4.9.6-Arbitrary-File-Deletion.html | x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104569 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://blog.ripstech.com/2018/wordpress-file-delete-to-code-execution/ | x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory | |
| https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00046.html | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9100 | x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory | |
| https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4250 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.