CVE-2019-16781
Stored cross-site scripting (XSS) in WordPress block editor
In WordPress before 5.3.1, authenticated users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor, which is executed within the dashboard. It can lead to an admin opening the affected post in the editor leading to XSS.
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
In WordPress before 5.3.1, authenticated users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor, which is executed within the dashboard. It can lead to an admin opening the affected post in the editor leading to XSS.
- Record
CVE-2019-16781- 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-2019-7299
In WordPress before 5.3.1, authenticated users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor, which is executed within the dashboard. It can lead to an admin opening the affected post in the editor leading to XSS.
- Record
EUVD-2019-7299- 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
In WordPress before 5.3.1, authenticated users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor, which is executed within the dashboard. It can lead to an admin opening the affected post in the editor leading to XSS.
- Record
CVE-2019-16781- 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
In WordPress before 5.3.1, authenticated users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor, which is executed within the dashboard. It can lead to an admin opening the affected post in the editor leading to XSS.
- Record
CVE-2019-16781- 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-2019-16781
In WordPress before 5.3.1, authenticated users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor, which is executed within the dashboard. It can lead to an admin opening the affected post in the editor leading to XSS.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2019-16781- 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-2019-16781
In WordPress before 5.3.1, authenticated users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor, which is executed within the dashboard. It can lead to an admin opening the affected post in the editor leading to XSS.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16781- 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-2019-16781 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 1.61%, the 76th percentile. Fixed in wordpress 5.3.2+dfsg1-1.