CVE-2020-28039

Name: CVE-2020-28039
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2020-11-02T21:15:31.117+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

CRITICALCVSS 9.1/10EPSS 4.06%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2020-28039 is a critical-severity vulnerability rated 9.1/10 on the CVSS scale. is_protected_meta in wp-includes/meta.php in WordPress before 5.5.2 allows arbitrary file deletion because it does not properly determine whether a meta key is considered protected.. EPSS estimates a 4.06% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

is_protected_meta in wp-includes/meta.php in WordPress before 5.5.2 allows arbitrary file deletion because it does not properly determine whether a meta key is considered protected.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

9.1/10

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

EPSS Probability

4.06%

89.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Wordpress	Wordpress	< 5.5.2
Debian	Debian Linux	9.0
Debian	Debian Linux	10.0
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	16.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	18.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	20.04

References

https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/commit/d5ddd6d4be1bc9fd16b7796842e6fb26315705adPatch, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00004.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CHHVNK2WYAM3ZTCXTFSEIT56IKLVJHU3/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VAVVYJKA2I6CRQUINECDPBGWMQDEG244/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VUXVUAKL2HL4QYJEPHBNVQQWRMFMII2Y/
https://wordpress.org/news/2020/10/wordpress-5-5-2-security-and-maintenance-release/Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/10452Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4784Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/commit/d5ddd6d4be1bc9fd16b7796842e6fb26315705adPatch, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00004.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CHHVNK2WYAM3ZTCXTFSEIT56IKLVJHU3/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VAVVYJKA2I6CRQUINECDPBGWMQDEG244/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VUXVUAKL2HL4QYJEPHBNVQQWRMFMII2Y/
https://wordpress.org/news/2020/10/wordpress-5-5-2-security-and-maintenance-release/Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/10452Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4784Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Nov 2, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-28039?

is_protected_meta in wp-includes/meta.php in WordPress before 5.5.2 allows arbitrary file deletion because it does not properly determine whether a meta key is considered protected.

How severe is CVE-2020-28039?

CVE-2020-28039 has a CVSS score of 9.1/10 (CRITICAL severity). The EPSS model estimates a 4.06% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2020-28039?

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-2020-28039?

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

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST