CVE-2020-8771Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Administrator access via unauthenticated request-body marker

Published Feb 6, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Authentication bypass in WP Time Capsule before 1.21.16 allows remote attackers to obtain an administrator session via a crafted POST body. The decode_server_request_wptc() function in wptc-cron-functions.php searches the raw POST body for IWP_JSON_PREFIX and calls wptc_login_as_admin() without an authorization check. No credentials or user interaction are required; the resulting WordPress administrator cookie permits dashboard access and administrative actions.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability46.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in WP Time Capsule before 1.21.16 allows remote attackers to obtain an administrator session via a crafted POST body. The decode_server_request_wptc() function in wptc-cron-functions.php searches the raw POST body for IWP_JSON_PREFIX and calls wptc_login_as_admin() without an authorization check. No credentials or user interaction are required; the resulting WordPress administrator cookie permits dashboard access and administrative actions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8771
Published
Feb 6, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-287, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 6, 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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-287Improper Authentication
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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