CVE-2019-16780
Stored cross-site scripting (XSS) in WordPress block editor
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Stored cross-site scripting (XSS) in WordPress block editor
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.
- Record
CVE-2019-16780- CVSS 3.1
- 5.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2019-7298
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.
- Record
EUVD-2019-7298- CVSS 3.1
- 5.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
NVD
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.
- Record
CVE-2019-16780- CVSS 3.1
- 5.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 3.5 Low
AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
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.
- Record
CVE-2019-16780- CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2019-16780
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.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2019-16780- CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2019-16780
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.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16780- CVSS 3.1
- 5.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS: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
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
wordpressDebian:12 |
before 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 | 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 |
wordpressDebian:13 |
before 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 | 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 |
wordpressDebian:14 |
before 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 | 5.3.2+dfsg1-1 |
wordpressDebian: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 |
wordpressUbuntu: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 |
wordpressUbuntu: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 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases, products | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2019-16780 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.8) in Wordpress, published December 26, 2019. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.70%, the 77th percentile. Fixed in wordpress 5.3.2+dfsg1-1.
References
wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9976
github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/GHSA-x3wp-h3qx-9w94
wordpress.org/news/2019/12/wordpress-5-3-1-security-and-maintenance-release
hackerone.com/reports/738644
seclists.org/bugtraq/2020/Jan/8