CVE-2020-12696Network attack vector

Stored XSS via unsanitized iframe shortcode URL

Published May 7, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Stored cross-site scripting in the iframe plugin for WordPress before 4.5 allows remote authenticated users to inject script via a shortcode URL. The iframe_unqprfx_embed_shortcode function places the user-controlled src value into generated iframe markup using generic attribute escaping rather than URL sanitization. Contributor-level access is required to save the crafted shortcode, and the script executes in a visitor's browser when the resulting post or page is viewed.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability2.01%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stored cross-site scripting in the iframe plugin for WordPress before 4.5 allows remote authenticated users to inject script via a shortcode URL. The iframe_unqprfx_embed_shortcode function places the user-controlled src value into generated iframe markup using generic attribute escaping rather than URL sanitization. Contributor-level access is required to save the crafted shortcode, and the script executes in a visitor's browser when the resulting post or page is viewed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-12696
Published
May 7, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-79, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 7, 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

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
6.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1059.007Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript/JScript

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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