CVE-2019-8942 — AI Deep Analysis Summary

Q: Who is affected? (Versions/Components)

📦 **Affected Versions**: • WordPress **<= 4.9.8** • WordPress **5.x < 5.0.1** 🌐 **Component**: Core WordPress image handling/cropping functionality.

Q: Is exploitation threshold high? (Auth/Config)

🔑 **Threshold**: **Medium**. ✅ **Auth Required**: Yes, attacker needs at least **Author** privileges to upload media. ⚙️ **Config**: Exploitation relies on the default image cropping feature being active.

Q: How to self-check? (Features/Scanning)

🔍 **Self-Check**: 1. Check WordPress version (is it <= 4.9.8 or < 5.0.1?). 2. Scan for uploaded images with embedded PHP code in EXIF headers. 3. Use vulnerability scanners that detect this specific RCE vector.

Q: Is it fixed officially? (Patch/Mitigation)

🩹 **Official Fix**: **Yes**. ✅ **Patch**: Update to WordPress **5.0.1** or later. 📢 **Advisories**: Debian DSA-4401 and other vendor updates released patches in March 2019.

Q: Is it urgent? (Priority Suggestion)

⚡ **Urgency**: **HIGH**. 🔥 **Priority**: Immediate patching required. Since PoCs are public and it allows RCE, any unpatched site with Author-level users is at **critical risk** of compromise.

Updated May 06, 2026

This is a summary of the AI-generated 10-question deep analysis. The full version (longer answers, follow-up Q&A, related CVEs) requires login. Read the full analysis →

Q1What is this vulnerability? (Essence + Consequences)

🚨 **Essence**: WordPress allows **Code Injection** via malicious images. 💥 **Consequences**: Remote attackers can execute **arbitrary PHP code** on the server by uploading specially crafted image files.…

Read full answer (login)

Q2Root Cause? (CWE/Flaw)

🛡️ **Root Cause**: The flaw lies in how WordPress handles **image metadata** (specifically EXIF data) during the cropping process.…

Read full answer (login)

Q3Who is affected? (Versions/Components)

📦 **Affected Versions**: 
• WordPress **<= 4.9.8** 
• WordPress **5.x < 5.0.1** 
🌐 **Component**: Core WordPress image handling/cropping functionality.

Q4What can hackers do? (Privileges/Data)

🕵️ **Attacker Actions**: Execute **Remote Code Execution (RCE)**. 
🔓 **Privileges**: Requires **Author** level access or higher to upload images.…

Read full answer (login)

Q5Is exploitation threshold high? (Auth/Config)

🔑 **Threshold**: **Medium**. 
✅ **Auth Required**: Yes, attacker needs at least **Author** privileges to upload media. 
⚙️ **Config**: Exploitation relies on the default image cropping feature being active.

Q6Is there a public Exp? (PoC/Wild Exploitation)

💣 **Public Exploits**: **Yes**. Multiple PoCs exist on GitHub (e.g., `WordPress_4.9.8_RCE_POC`, `CVE-2019-8942`).…

Read full answer (login)

Q7How to self-check? (Features/Scanning)

🔍 **Self-Check**: 
Check WordPress version (is it <= 4.9.8 or < 5.0.1?). 
Scan for uploaded images with embedded PHP code in EXIF headers. 
Use vulnerability scanners that detect this specific RCE vector.

Q8Is it fixed officially? (Patch/Mitigation)

🩹 **Official Fix**: **Yes**. 
✅ **Patch**: Update to WordPress **5.0.1** or later. 
📢 **Advisories**: Debian DSA-4401 and other vendor updates released patches in March 2019.

Q9What if no patch? (Workaround)

🚧 **No Patch Workaround**: 
**Disable Image Cropping**: Restrict user capabilities to prevent media cropping. 
**Restrict Uploads**: Limit who can upload images (Admin only). 
…

Read full answer (login)

Q10Is it urgent? (Priority Suggestion)

⚡ **Urgency**: **HIGH**. 
🔥 **Priority**: Immediate patching required. Since PoCs are public and it allows RCE, any unpatched site with Author-level users is at **critical risk** of compromise.

Continue exploring

Vulnerability detail Full AI analysis (login) n/a