Detections
Analytics
WordPress 5.3.x < 5.3.24 Multiple Vulnerabilities
medium Web App Scanning Plugin ID 115501
Synopsis
WordPress 5.3.x < 5.3.24 Multiple VulnerabilitiesDescription
According to its self-reported version number, the version of WordPress installed on the remote host is missing a security update. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities:- A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in paragraph formatting via wpautop() that allows an unauthenticated visitor to inject script, subject to comment approval.
- An issue in the HTML API where set_modifiable_text() allows modified text to break out of an HTML comment via abrupt-closing sequences.
- A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in custom header images on certain themes that support custom headers.
- An unauthorized access issue where specially crafted URLs can automatically install and preview an inactive theme from WordPress.org.
- A privilege escalation issue in multisite where a site administrator can network-activate an installed network-only plugin.
- An authenticated path traversal vulnerability in the WP REST templates controller.
- An authorization bypass in XML-RPC that can be used to publish customize_changeset posts that bypass the edit_css capability check.
- A privilege escalation issue allowing a Contributor or higher to overwrite arbitrary posts.
- An information disclosure issue caused by a missing read_post check in attachment_submitbox_metadata() that leaks the title of a private parent post.
- A missing authorization issue allowing a Contributor or higher to disclose draft and pending post slugs.
- An authorization bypass allowing any authenticated user to reparent comments, including notes.
Note that the scanner has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.
Solution
Upgrade to WordPress version 5.3.24 or later.See Also
https://wordpress.org/documentation/wordpress-version/version-7.1.1/
https://wordpress.org/news/2026/09/wordpress-7-1-1-maintenance-and-security-release/
Plugin Details
Severity: Medium
ID: 115501
Type: Version Based
Family: Component Vulnerability
Published: 9/23/2026
Updated: 9/23/2026
Scan Template: api, basic, full, pci, scan
Risk Information
CVSS v2
Risk Factor: Medium
Base Score: 4.3
Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
CVSS Score Source: Tenable
CVSS v3
Risk Factor: Medium
Base Score: 6.5
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CVSS Score Source: Tenable
Vulnerability Information
CPE: cpe:2.3:a:wordpress:wordpress:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available
Vulnerability Publication Date: 9/17/2026
Reference Information
CWE: 116, 200, 22, 269, 352, 639, 79, 862, 863
OWASP: 2010-A2, 2010-A4, 2010-A5, 2010-A6, 2010-A8, 2013-A3, 2013-A4, 2013-A5, 2013-A7, 2013-A8, 2013-A9, 2017-A5, 2017-A6, 2017-A7, 2017-A9, 2021-A1, 2021-A3, 2021-A4, 2021-A6, 2025-A1, 2025-A5, 2025-A6
WASC: Cross-Site Request Forgery, Cross-Site Scripting, Improper Output Handling, Information Leakage, Insufficient Authorization, Path Traversal
CAPEC: 104, 111, 116, 122, 126, 13, 169, 209, 22, 224, 233, 285, 287, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 312, 313, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 462, 467, 472, 497, 508, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 58, 588, 59, 591, 592, 60, 616, 62, 63, 64, 643, 646, 651, 73, 76, 78, 79, 81, 85
DISA STIG: APSC-DV-000460, APSC-DV-000500, APSC-DV-002490, APSC-DV-002500, APSC-DV-002560, APSC-DV-002630
HIPAA: 164.306(a)(1), 164.306(a)(2), 164.312(a)(1), 164.312(a)(2)(i)
ISO: 27001-A.12.6.1, 27001-A.13.1.1, 27001-A.14.1.2, 27001-A.14.1.3, 27001-A.14.2.5, 27001-A.18.1.3, 27001-A.6.2.2, 27001-A.9.1.2, 27001-A.9.4.1, 27001-A.9.4.4, 27001-A.9.4.5
NIST: sp800_53-AC-3, sp800_53-CM-6b, sp800_53-SI-10, sp800_53-SI-10(5), sp800_53-SI-15
OWASP API: 2019-API7, 2019-API8, 2023-API8
OWASP ASVS: 4.0.2-12.3.1, 4.0.2-14.2.1, 4.0.2-4.2.2, 4.0.2-5.2.1, 4.0.2-5.3.3, 4.0.2-8.3.4