CVE-2020-11028Network attack vector

Private-post disclosure via multi-result date-time queries

Published Apr 30, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper access control in WordPress 3.7.0 through 5.4.0 allows remote attackers to read certain private posts via date-time queries. WP_Query fails to limit fully specified date-time queries to one post, allowing multiple same-second results to enter single-post visibility handling. Exploitation requires a private post that was previously public and a crafted query matching its date and time; the consequence is read-only disclosure.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability2.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in WordPress 3.7.0 through 5.4.0 allows remote attackers to read certain private posts via date-time queries. WP_Query fails to limit fully specified date-time queries to one post, allowing multiple same-second results to enter single-post visibility handling. Exploitation requires a private post that was previously public and a crafted query matching its date and time; the consequence is read-only disclosure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-11028
Published
Apr 30, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
WordPress.org
Product
WordPress
Classifications
CWE-284, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 30, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 3.7.0, < 3.7.33
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 3.8.0, < 3.8.33
  3. Affected versionversion=>= 3.9.0, < 3.9.31
  4. Affected versionversion=>= 4.0.0, < 4.0.30
  5. Affected versionversion=>= 4.1.0, < 4.1.30
  6. Affected versionversion=>= 4.2.0, < 4.2.27
  7. Affected versionversion=>= 4.3.0, < 4.3.23
  8. Affected versionversion=>= 4.4.0, < 4.4.22
  9. Affected versionversion=>= 4.5.0, < 4.5.21
  10. Affected versionversion=>= 4.6.0, < 4.6.18
  11. Affected versionversion=>= 4.7.0, < 4.7.17
  12. Affected versionversion=>= 4.8.0, < 4.8.13
  13. Affected versionversion=>= 4.9.0, < 4.9.14
  14. Affected versionversion=>= 5.0.0, < 5.0.9
  15. Affected versionversion=>= 5.1.0, < 5.1.5
  16. Affected versionversion=>= 5.2.0, < 5.2.6
  17. Affected versionversion=>= 5.3.0, < 5.3.3
  18. Affected versionversion=>= 5.4.0, < 5.4.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

WordPress.org · WordPressversion=>= 3.7.0, < 3.7.33; version=>= 3.8.0, < 3.8.33; version=>= 3.9.0, < 3.9.31; version=>= 4.0.0, < 4.0.30; version=>= 4.1.0, < 4.1.30; version=>= 4.2.0, < 4.2.27; version=>= 4.3.0, < 4.3.23; version=>= 4.4.0, < 4.4.22; version=>= 4.5.0, < 4.5.21; version=>= 4.6.0, < 4.6.18; version=>= 4.7.0, < 4.7.17; version=>= 4.8.0, < 4.8.13; version=>= 4.9.0, < 4.9.14; version=>= 5.0.0, < 5.0.9; version=>= 5.1.0, < 5.1.5; version=>= 5.2.0, < 5.2.6; version=>= 5.3.0, < 5.3.3; version=>= 5.4.0, < 5.4.1

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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