CVE-2020-17496 kev in the critical feed json
vBulletin 5.5.4 through 5.6.2 allows remote command execution via crafted subWidgets data in an ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_pane…
published 2020-08-12 6 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2020-9444
- cvss
- 9.8
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Exploited
- added 2021-11-03
- epss
- 87.5%
- EPSS 87.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.7%
- public exploits
- 1
- Metasploit, plus a Nuclei check
Summary
vBulletin 5.5.4 through 5.6.2 allows remote command execution via crafted subWidgets data in an ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_panel request. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2019-16759.
Patch / fix
cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Timeline
- First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/multi/http/vbulletin_widget_template_rce)
- Published
- Added to CISA KEV
- CISA patch deadline
- CISA SSVC: exploitation active
Known exploited
- Added
- 5 y ago
- Patch by
- 2022-05-03 (4 y ago)
- Ransomware
- Not known
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Vendor, product
- vBulletin, vBulletin
- CISA name
- vBulletin PHP Module Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- Active, exploited in the wild
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
- Assessed
- 21 mo ago
Exploit prediction
87.48% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.7% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- Metasploit exploit/multi/http/vbulletin_widget_template_rce vBulletin 5.x /ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_panel PHP remote code execution. metasploit exploit, excellent rank, 2020-08-09
- Nuclei template vBulletin 5.5.4 - 5.6.2- Remote Command Execution nuclei detection template
- blog.exploitee.rs https://blog.exploitee.rs/2020/exploiting-vbulletin-a-tale-of-patch-fail/ referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
- seclists.org https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/5 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA ADP | 3.1 | 9.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 3.1 | 9.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| CNA | 3.1 | 9.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 2.0 | 7.5 | AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P |
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-74 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component
References
-
forum.vbulletin.com
/forum/vbulletin-announcements/vbulletin-announcements_aa/4445227-vbulletin-5-6-0-5-6-1-5-6-2-security-patch
patch, vendor-advisory
-
blog.exploitee.rs
/2020/exploiting-vbulletin-a-tale-of-patch-fail/
exploit, third-party-advisory
-
seclists.org
/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/5
exploit, mailing-list, third-party-advisory
-
cwe.mitre.org
/data/definitions/78.html
technical-description
-
cisa.gov
/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-17496
government-resource, us-government-resource
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2020-17496
- NVD CVE-2020-17496
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.