What it is
CVE-2019-8942 is a vulnerability affecting WordPress WordPress. WordPress before 4.9.9 and 5.x before 5.0.1 allows remote code execution because an _wp_attached_file Post Meta entry can be changed to an arbitrary...
Vulnerability report
Exploited in the wild
High confidence
Not in CISA KEV
CVE-2019-8942
WordPress Remote Code Execution
WordPress / WordPress
- Severity
- CVSS 8.8 · High
- Confidence
- High
- Exploit status
- Exploited in the wild
- EPSS
- 82.7%
- 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?
WordPress / WordPress.
What should we do?
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
Overview
WordPress Remote Code Execution
WordPress before 4.9.9 and 5.x before 5.0.1 allows remote code execution because an _wp_attached_file Post Meta entry can be changed to an arbitrary string, such as one ending with a .jpg?file.php substring. An attacker with author privileges can execute arbitrary code by uploading a crafted image containing PHP code in the Exif metadata.
Exploitation can leverage CVE-2019-8943.
- Published
- 20 Feb 2019
- Exploitation Reported
- 30 Jul 2026
- Attack vector
- Remote
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- Low
- User interaction
- None
Tags
wordpress
php
CVE References
- CVE Record CVE.org · CVE Record https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8942
- DSA-4401 debian.org · Vendor Advisory https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4401
- 46511 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46511/
- 46662 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46662/
- 107088 securityfocus.com · VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/107088
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190331 [SECURITY] [DLA 1742-1] wordpress security update lists.debian.org · Mailing List https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/03/msg00044.html
- wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9222 wpvulndb.com · CVE Record https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9222
- blog.ripstech.com/2019/wordpress-image-remote-code-execution blog.ripstech.com · CVE Record https://blog.ripstech.com/2019/wordpress-image-remote-code-execution/
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/152396/WordPress-5.0.0-crop-image-Shel... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152396/WordPress-5.0.0-crop-imag...
- rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/wp_crop_rce rapid7.com · CVE Record http://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/wp_crop_rce
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
Palo Alto Networks Security Advisories
Independent exploitation attestation added to the KEV Intelligence record.
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 |
|---|---|
| Palo Alto Networks Security Advisories First | 2026-07-30 10:42 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
Metasploit template detected 28 Apr 2025.
View Metasploit 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/wp_crop_rce.rb | 28 Apr 2025 |
Risk and context
Severity, weaknesses, and research context
CVSS v3.0
8.8
High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS
82.7%
All CVSS Scores
CVSS v3.0
8.8
High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v2.0
6.5
Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
Timeline
From disclosure to observed exploitation
-
Added to KEV Intelligence KEV Feed
High-confidence, third-party attested exploitation
-
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
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-2019-8942
Free JSON includes basic KEV fields{
"cve_id": "CVE-2019-8942",
"confidence": "High",
"cvss_score": 8.8,
"cvss_estimated": false,
"epss_score": 0.82736,
"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.