What it is
CVE-2014-8739 is an unauthenticated vulnerability affecting jQuery File Upload Plugin. Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in server/php/UploadHandler.php in the jQuery File Upload Plugin 6.4.4 for jQuery, as used...
Vulnerability report
Exploited in the wild
High confidence
Not in CISA KEV
CVE-2014-8739
File Upload Plugin
jQuery / File Upload Plugin
- Severity
- CVSS 9.8 · Critical
- Confidence
- High
- Exploit status
- Exploited in the wild
- EPSS
- 91.7%
- First observed
- —
- Last observed
- —
Decision summary
What security teams need to know first
Direct answers before the deeper technical record.
Is it exploited?
Yes. KEV Intelligence tracks this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability. Confidence is high.
Who is affected?
jQuery / File Upload Plugin.
What should we do?
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
Overview
File Upload Plugin
Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in server/php/UploadHandler.php in the jQuery File Upload Plugin 6.4.4 for jQuery, as used in the Creative Solutions Creative Contact Form (formerly Sexy Contact Form) before 1.0.0 for WordPress and before 2.0.1 for Joomla!, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by uploading a PHP file with an PHP extension, then accessing it via a direct request to the file in files/, as exploited in the wild in October 2014.
- Published
- 08 Feb 2020
- Exploitation Reported
- 08 Feb 2020
- Attack vector
- Remote
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- None
Tags
joomla
nuclei_scanner
php
wordpress
CVE References
- CVE Record CVE.org · CVE Record https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-8739
- exploit-db.com/exploits/35057 exploit-db.com · CVE Record https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/35057/
- exploit-db.com/exploits/36811 exploit-db.com · CVE Record https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/36811/
- OSS-Security Mailing List openwall.com · CVE Record http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/11/11/4
- OSS-Security Mailing List openwall.com · CVE Record http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/11/11/5
- OSS-Security Mailing List openwall.com · CVE Record http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/11/13/3
- wordpress.org/plugins/sexy-contact-form/changelog wordpress.org · CVE Record https://wordpress.org/plugins/sexy-contact-form/changelog/
- osvdb.org/show/osvdb/113669 osvdb.org · CVE Record http://osvdb.org/show/osvdb/113669
- osvdb.org/show/osvdb/113673 osvdb.org · CVE Record http://osvdb.org/show/osvdb/113673
Exploitation evidence
Why KEV Intelligence marks this CVE as exploited
Third-party attestation and first-party sensor observation are shown separately so teams can judge the evidence chain.
Exploited in the wild
CVE
Independent exploitation attestation added to the KEV Intelligence record.
Proof of concept available
Nuclei Templates
Public scanner or PoC coverage increases practical exploitability.
Known exploited vulnerability sources
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEV Intelligence Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CVE First | 2020-02-08 17:21 UTC |
Detection
Operational artifacts and observed signals
Make the evidence actionable in scanner, SOC, and edge-control workflows.
Observed signals
- Request targets
- 0
- User-Agents
- 0
Raw values available in Pro and Enterprise.
Scanner coverage
Nuclei template detected 01 Jun 2026.
View Nuclei template (opens in new tab)Virtual patch status
No KEV Intelligence virtual patch is currently available. Future rules ship for ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF.
Learn about virtual patches →Scanner Artifacts
Scanner and exploit-framework references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2014/CVE-2014-8739.yaml | 01 Jun 2026 |
Risk and context
Severity, weaknesses, and research context
CVSS v3.1
9.8
Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS
91.7%
All CVSS Scores
CVSS v3.1
9.8
Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v2.0
7.5
High
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
WordPress Sexy Contact Form (<= 0.9.7) - Arbitrary File Upload
nuclei · Created Unknown
Timeline
From disclosure to observed exploitation
-
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
Nuclei template available
Scanner coverage available
-
Added to KEV Intelligence KEV Feed
High-confidence, third-party attested exploitation
-
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Pro API
Automate this intelligence
Confidence, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
- Evidence confidence and provenance
- First-party sensor telemetry
- PoC and scanner references
- Affected versions and enrichment
- Automation-ready JSON delivery
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2014-8739
Free JSON includes basic KEV fields{
"cve_id": "CVE-2014-8739",
"confidence": "High",
"cvss_score": 9.8,
"cvss_estimated": false,
"epss_score": 0.91656,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "attempts": 0, "sensors": 0 }
}Early warning alerts
Get alerts on high-impact exploitation
Receive curator-selected alerts when exploitation activity warrants attention. Each alert includes the evidence and context needed to decide what requires attention now.