CVE-2019-16223

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

5.4 MediumPublic exploitFix available

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: Low
User interaction: Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: Low
Integrity: Low
Availability: None

Exploit likelihood

5.18%Down 1.9 points since Apr 14, 2021

What each source reports

NVD Score used 5.4

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

Record: CVE-2019-16223
CVSS 3.1: 5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CVSS 2.0: 3.5 LowAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N
Weakness: CWE-79
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

Record: CVE-2019-16223
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2019-7035 No score

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

Record: EUVD-2019-7035
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-3mv4-59rc-qvqm 5.4

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

Record: GHSA-3mv4-59rc-qvqm
CVSS 3.1: 5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Weakness: CWE-79
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSV 5.4

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

Record: CVE-2019-16223
CVSS 3.1: 5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2019-16223 5.4

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

Record: DEBIAN-CVE-2019-16223
CVSS 3.1: 5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2019-16223 5.4

WordPress before 5.2.3 allows XSS in post previews by authenticated users.

Record: UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16223
CVSS 3.1: 5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`wordpress` Debian:12	before 5.2.3+dfsg1-1	5.2.3+dfsg1-1
`wordpress` Debian:13	before 5.2.3+dfsg1-1	5.2.3+dfsg1-1
`wordpress` Debian:14	before 5.2.3+dfsg1-1	5.2.3+dfsg1-1
`wordpress` Debian:8 From an advisory covering 7 CVEs	before 4.1.27+dfsg-0+deb8u1, plus listed versions 4.1+dfsg-14.1+dfsg-1+deb8u14.1+dfsg-1+deb8u104.1+dfsg-1+deb8u114.1+dfsg-1+deb8u12 Show 17 moreShow less 4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u134.1+dfsg-1+deb8u144.1+dfsg-1+deb8u154.1+dfsg-1+deb8u164.1+dfsg-1+deb8u174.1+dfsg-1+deb8u184.1+dfsg-1+deb8u24.1+dfsg-1+deb8u34.1+dfsg-1+deb8u44.1+dfsg-1+deb8u54.1+dfsg-1+deb8u64.1+dfsg-1+deb8u74.1+dfsg-1+deb8u84.1+dfsg-1+deb8u94.1.1+dfsg-14.1.25+dfsg-1+deb8u14.1.26+dfsg-1+deb8u1	4.1.27+dfsg-0+deb8u1
`wordpress` Debian:10 From an advisory covering 18 CVEs	before 5.0.4+dfsg1-1+deb10u1, plus listed versions 5.0.4+dfsg1-1	5.0.4+dfsg1-1+deb10u1
`wordpress` Ubuntu:16.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 4.3+dfsg-14.3.1+dfsg-14.4+dfsg-14.4.1+dfsg-14.4.2+dfsg-14.4.2+dfsg-1ubuntu1	None known
`wordpress` Ubuntu:18.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 4.8.2+dfsg-24.8.3+dfsg-14.9.1+dfsg-14.9.2+dfsg-14.9.4+dfsg-14.9.5+dfsg1-1	None known
`wordpress` Ubuntu:20.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 5.2.2+dfsg1-15.2.4+dfsg1-15.3.2+dfsg1-15.3.2+dfsg1-1ubuntu1	None known
`wordpress` Ubuntu:22.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 5.7.1+dfsg1-2ubuntu15.8.1+dfsg1-2ubuntu15.8.2+dfsg1-1ubuntu15.8.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu15.8.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu1.1	None known
`wordpress` Ubuntu:24.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 6.2+dfsg1-1ubuntu16.4.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu1	None known
`wordpress` Ubuntu:25.10	All versions, plus listed versions 6.7.2+dfsg1-1.1ubuntu1	None known
`wordpress` Ubuntu:26.10	All versions, plus listed versions 6.7.2+dfsg1-1.1ubuntu2	None known
`wordpress` Ubuntu:26.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 6.7.2+dfsg1-1.1ubuntu16.7.2+dfsg1-1.1ubuntu2	None known

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
Source	Link	Date
Exploit-DB	Wordpress Core 5.2.2 - 'post previews' XSS	2021-01-04

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 6, 2026	affected, facts
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2019-16223 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.4) in Wordpress, published September 11, 2019. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 5.18%, the 92nd percentile. Fixed in wordpress 5.2.3+dfsg1-1.

References

Show 6 moreShow less