CVE-2020-17496

vBulletin 5.5.4 through 5.6.2 allows remote command execution via crafted subWidgets data in an...

9.8 CriticalIn KEVPublic exploit

vBulletin 5.5.4 through 5.6.2 allows remote command execution via crafted subWidgets data in an ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_panel request. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2019-16759.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

87.5%Up 49.3 points since Apr 14, 2021

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

Record: CVE-2020-17496
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 7.5 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness: CWE-74
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List 9.8

Record: CVE-2020-17496
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-74
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2020-9444 9.8

Record: EUVD-2020-9444
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-j77p-6wx9-cjqq 9.8

vBulletin 5.5.4 through 5.6.2 allows remote command execution via crafted subWidgets data in an...

Record: GHSA-j77p-6wx9-cjqq
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-74
Updated: 2026-11-02

CISA KEV No score

vBulletin PHP Module Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

The PHP module within vBulletin contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for remote code execution via crafted subWidgets data in an ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_panel request. This CVE ID resolves an incomplete patch for CVE-2019-16759.

Record: CVE-2020-17496
Weakness: CWE-74
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

vbulletin

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
Source	Link	Date
Metasploit	vBulletin 5.x /ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_panel PHP remote code execution.	2020-08-09
PoC in GitHub	ctlyz123/CVE-2020-17496	2020-08-20
PoC in GitHub	ludy-dev/vBulletin_5.x-tab_panel-RCE	2020-09-03
Nuclei	vBulletin 5.5.4 - 5.6.2- Remote Command Execution

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	exploitation, exploits
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, CISA KEV, Metasploit, Nuclei, NVD, PoC in GitHub

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

In short

CVE-2020-17496 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Vbulletin, published August 12, 2020. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since November 3, 2021. EUVD reports exploitation since November 3, 2021. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 87.5%, the 99th percentile. No source names a fixed version.