CVE-2019-9978

Name: CVE-2019-9978
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2019-03-24T15:29:00.243+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 6.1/10Actively ExploitedEPSS 73.54%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2019-9978 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 6.1/10 on the CVSS scale. The social-warfare plugin before 3.5.3 for WordPress has stored XSS via the wp-admin/admin-post.php?swp_debug=load_options swp_url parameter, as exploited in the wild in March 2019. This affects Social Warfare and Social Warfare Pro.. CISA has confirmed active exploitation in the wild. EPSS estimates a 73.54% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The social-warfare plugin before 3.5.3 for WordPress has stored XSS via the wp-admin/admin-post.php?swp_debug=load_options swp_url parameter, as exploited in the wild in March 2019. This affects Social Warfare and Social Warfare Pro.

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

73.54%

99.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is listed in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. Federal agencies must remediate by May 3, 2022.

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Warfareplugins	Social Warfare	< 3.5.3
Warfareplugins	Social Warfare Pro	< 3.5.3

References

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152722/Wordpress-Social-Warfare-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163680/WordPress-Social-Warfare-3.5.2-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://blog.sucuri.net/2019/03/zero-day-stored-xss-in-social-warfare.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
https://twitter.com/warfareplugins/status/1108852747099652099Third Party Advisory
https://wordpress.org/plugins/social-warfare/#developersProduct
https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9238Broken Link, Third Party Advisory
https://www.cybersecurity-help.cz/vdb/SB2019032105Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46794/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.pluginvulnerabilities.com/2019/03/21/full-disclosure-of-settings-change-persistent-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability-in-social-warfare/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2019/03/unpatched-zero-day-vulnerability-in-social-warfare-plugin-exploited-in-the-wild/Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152722/Wordpress-Social-Warfare-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163680/WordPress-Social-Warfare-3.5.2-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jun/1Mailing List
https://blog.sucuri.net/2019/03/zero-day-stored-xss-in-social-warfare.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory
https://twitter.com/warfareplugins/status/1108852747099652099Third Party Advisory
https://wordpress.org/plugins/social-warfare/#developersProduct
https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9238Broken Link, Third Party Advisory
https://www.cybersecurity-help.cz/vdb/SB2019032105Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46794/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.pluginvulnerabilities.com/2019/03/21/full-disclosure-of-settings-change-persistent-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability-in-social-warfare/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2019/03/unpatched-zero-day-vulnerability-in-social-warfare-plugin-exploited-in-the-wild/Third Party Advisory
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-9978US Government Resource

Timeline

Published: Mar 24, 2019
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-9978?

How severe is CVE-2019-9978?

CVE-2019-9978 has a CVSS score of 6.1/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 73.54% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

How do I fix CVE-2019-9978?

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-2019-9978?

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

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Source: NVD / NIST