CVE-2020-4050
set-screen-option filter misuse by plugins leading to privilege escalation in WordPress
LOW
3.1
CVSS Score
Published: June 12, 2020 at 04:00 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:19 AM UTC
3 products affected across 3 vendorsDebian LinuxFedoraWordPress
Using wordpress-develop by WordPress?
Get instant alerts when new vulnerabilities affect wordpress-develop - before attackers find them.
Real-time alertsTrack your software stackFree plan available
Severity
LOW3.1
Exploit prediction
EPSS 1%
Description
In affected versions of WordPress, misuse of the `set-screen-option` filter's return value allows arbitrary user meta fields to be saved. It does require an admin to install a plugin that would misuse the filter. Once installed, it can be leveraged by low privileged users. This has been patched in version 5.4.2, along with all the previously affected versions via a minor release (5.3.4, 5.2.7, 5.1.6, 5.0.10, 4.9.15, 4.8.14, 4.7.18, 4.6.19, 4.5.22, 4.4.23, 4.3.24, 4.2.28, 4.1.31, 4.0.31, 3.9.32, 3.8.34, 3.7.34).
Affected
Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.
Debian Linux· Debiandrupal
95%WordPress· WordPressdrupal
95%v < 3.7.34v < 3.8.34v < 3.9.32v < 4.0.31v < 4.1.31v < 4.2.28v < 4.3.24v < 4.4.23v < 4.5.22v < 4.6.19v < 4.7.18v < 4.8.14v < 4.9.15v < 5.0.10v < 5.1.6v < 5.2.7v < 5.3.4v < 5.4.23.7 ≤ v < 3.7.343.8 ≤ v < 3.8.343.9 ≤ v < 3.9.324.0 ≤ v < 4.0.314.1 ≤ v < 4.1.314.2 ≤ v < 4.2.284.3 ≤ v < 4.3.244.4 ≤ v < 4.4.234.5 ≤ v < 4.5.224.6 ≤ v < 4.6.194.7 ≤ v < 4.7.184.8 ≤ v < 4.8.144.9 ≤ v < 4.9.155.0 ≤ v < 5.0.105.1 ≤ v < 5.1.65.2 ≤ v < 5.2.75.3.0 ≤ v < 5.3.45.4 ≤ v < 5.4.2
Affected range stops below 3.7.34, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.8.34, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.9.32, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.0.31, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.1.31, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.2.28, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.3.24, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.4.23, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.5.22, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.6.19, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.7.18, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.8.14, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 4.9.15, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.0.10, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.1.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.2.7, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.3.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.4.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Remediation
No guide yetNo remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:
Patch and advisory references
- https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/commit/b8dea76b495f0072523106c6ec46b9ea0d2a0920
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/773N2ZV7QEMBGKH6FBKI6Q5S3YJMW357/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ODNHXVJS25YVWYQHOCICXTLIN5UYJFDN/
- https://wordpress.org/news/2020/06/wordpress-5-4-2-security-and-maintenance-release/
- https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4709
References (8)
x_refsource_MISCPatch
Source: [email protected]
https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/commit/b8dea76b495f0072523106c6ec46b9ea0d2a0920x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/GHSA-4vpv-fgg2-gcqcMailing Listx_refsource_MLISTThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/07/msg00000.htmlMailing Listx_refsource_MLISTThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/09/msg00011.htmlVendor Advisoryx_refsource_FEDORA
Source: [email protected]
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/773N2ZV7QEMBGKH6FBKI6Q5S3YJMW357/Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_FEDORA
Source: [email protected]
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ODNHXVJS25YVWYQHOCICXTLIN5UYJFDN/x_refsource_MISCRelease NotesVendor Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://wordpress.org/news/2020/06/wordpress-5-4-2-security-and-maintenance-release/Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4709CVSS
- Attack Vector
- NETWORK
- Complexity
- HIGH
- Privileges
- LOW
- User Interaction
- NONE
- Scope
- UNCHANGED
- Confidentiality
- NONE
- Integrity
- LOW
- Availability
- NONE
Vector?
Quick Info
StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-288
Get alerted
Stop reading CVE feeds looking for your own stack
Track the products you run and VulnTracker tells you when a new CVE affects them — with what is known about fixing it, and nothing about the rest.
Free plan, no card