CVE-2017-20086Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote PHP execution via cleartext secret retrieval

Published Jun 23, 2022 · Updated Apr 15, 2025

Code injection in Automattic VaultPress Plugin 1.8.4 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to execute arbitrary PHP on WordPress hosts. The SSL client retrieves its secret key without forcing HTTPS, exposing the key in intercepted traffic and enabling injected PHP. Exploitation requires a network position capable of intercepting the VaultPress connection; successful exploitation runs code on the affected host.

CVSS severity6.3
Medium
EPSS probability1.06%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in Automattic VaultPress Plugin 1.8.4 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to execute arbitrary PHP on WordPress hosts. The SSL client retrieves its secret key without forcing HTTPS, exposing the key in intercepted traffic and enabling injected PHP. Exploitation requires a network position capable of intercepting the VaultPress connection; successful exploitation runs code on the affected host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2017-20086
Published
Jun 23, 2022
Updated
Apr 15, 2025
Vendor
Automattic
Product
VaultPress
Classifications
CWE-94, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 23, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 15, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.8.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Automattic · VaultPressversion=1.8.4

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.3VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
6.0NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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