WordPress users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor using a specific payload, which is executed within the dashboard. This can lead to XSS if an admin opens the post in the editor. Execution of this attack does require an authenticated user. This has been patched in WordPress 5.3.1, along with all the previous WordPress versions from 3.7 to 5.3 via a minor release. Automatic updates are enabled by default for minor releases and we strongly recommend that you keep them enabled.
CVE-2019-16780
This medium-severity CVE scores 5.8 under NVD CVSS v3. EPSS exploit probability: 1.7%, top 25% of all CVEs by exploit prediction. GitHub Security Advisory data not yet ingested — confidence will rise once GHSA publishes (typical lag: hours to days for open-source ecosystem CVEs; never for infrastructure-only CVEs).
- Lower severity and no public exploit yet
No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.
- CVSS v3
- 5.8
- EG Score
- 5.8(medium)
- EG Risk
- 31(Track)EG Risk 31/100SSVC: Track
EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).
How it’s computedSeverity58% × 45%Exploitation2% × 40%Automatability30% × 15%Action: Routine — remediate on your standard cadence. - EPSS PROB
- 2%
- EPSS %ILE
- 76%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
December 26, 2019
Last Modified
November 21, 2024
References (16)
- security-advisories@githubhttps://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/commit/505dd6a20b6fc3d06130018c1caeff764248c29e
- security-advisories@githubhttps://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/GHSA-x3wp-h3qx-9w94
- security-advisories@githubhttps://hackerone.com/reports/738644
- security-advisories@githubhttps://seclists.org/bugtraq/2020/Jan/8
- security-advisories@githubhttps://wordpress.org/news/2019/12/wordpress-5-3-1-security-and-maintenance-release/
- security-advisories@githubhttps://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9976
- security-advisories@githubhttps://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4599
- security-advisories@githubhttps://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4677
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/commit/505dd6a20b6fc3d06130018c1caeff764248c29e
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/GHSA-x3wp-h3qx-9w94
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://hackerone.com/reports/738644
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2020/Jan/8
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://wordpress.org/news/2019/12/wordpress-5-3-1-security-and-maintenance-release/
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9976
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4599
Affected Packages
(5 across 5 ecosystems)
Debian:10(1)
| Package | Vulnerable range | Fixed in | Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| wordpress | 5.0.4+dfsg1-1 | 5.0.4+dfsg1-1+deb10u1 | — |
Debian:11(1)
| Package | Vulnerable range | Fixed in | Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| wordpress | — | 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 | — |
Debian:12(1)
| Package | Vulnerable range | Fixed in | Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| wordpress | — | 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 | — |
Debian:13(1)
| Package | Vulnerable range | Fixed in | Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| wordpress | — | 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 | — |
Debian:14(1)
| Package | Vulnerable range | Fixed in | Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| wordpress | — | 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 | — |
Weakness Classification(1)
MITRE Common Weakness Enumeration — the root-cause categories this CVE belongs to.
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 9× in last 7d / 28× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
Showing the most recent 100 of 115 total refreshes for this CVE.
- 2026-08-21 23:45 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-08-21 07:14 UTCOSV refresh
- 2026-08-20 22:51 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-07-24 14:14 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-07-23 01:41 UTCEG score recompute
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- 2026-07-22 14:05 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-07-19 22:38 UTCOSV refresh
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- 2026-07-02 13:16 UTCOSV refresh
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- 2026-06-14 11:43 UTCOSV refresh
- 2026-06-13 22:58 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-06-02 20:11 UTCEPSS rescore
Related CVEs(same CWE)
Frequently asked(5)
What is CVE-2019-16780?
When was CVE-2019-16780 disclosed?
Is CVE-2019-16780 actively exploited?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-16780?
How do I remediate CVE-2019-16780?
Dependency Blast Radius
See which npm, PyPI, Go, and Maven packages are affected by CVE-2019-16780
Is Your Infrastructure Affected by CVE-2019-16780?
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