CVE-2019-20042

Name: CVE-2019-20042
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2019-12-27T08:15:09.747+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 6.1/10EPSS 2.76%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2019-20042 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 6.1/10 on the CVSS scale. In wp-includes/formatting.php in WordPress 3.7 to 5.3.0, the function wp_targeted_link_rel() can be used in a particular way to result in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability. 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.. EPSS estimates a 2.76% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

In wp-includes/formatting.php in WordPress 3.7 to 5.3.0, the function wp_targeted_link_rel() can be used in a particular way to result in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability. 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.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

6.1/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

EPSS Probability

2.76%

84.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-79

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Wordpress	Wordpress	>= 3.7, < 5.3.1
Debian	Debian Linux	9.0
Debian	Debian Linux	10.0

References

https://blog.ripstech.com/filter/vulnerabilities/Not Applicable
https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/46894/trunkPatch
https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/commit/1f7f3f1f59567e2504f0fbebd51ccf004b3ccb1dPatch
https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/GHSA-xvg2-m2f4-83m7Third Party Advisory
https://hackerone.com/reports/509930Third Party Advisory
https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2020/Jan/8Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://wordpress.org/news/2019/12/wordpress-5-3-1-security-and-maintenance-release/Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9975Release Notes, Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4599Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4677Third Party Advisory
https://blog.ripstech.com/filter/vulnerabilities/Not Applicable
https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/46894/trunkPatch
https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/commit/1f7f3f1f59567e2504f0fbebd51ccf004b3ccb1dPatch
https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/GHSA-xvg2-m2f4-83m7Third Party Advisory
https://hackerone.com/reports/509930Third Party Advisory
https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2020/Jan/8Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://wordpress.org/news/2019/12/wordpress-5-3-1-security-and-maintenance-release/Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9975Release Notes, Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4599Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4677Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Dec 27, 2019
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-20042?

How severe is CVE-2019-20042?

CVE-2019-20042 has a CVSS score of 6.1/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 2.76% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2019-20042?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2019-20042?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST