Description
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the media_handle_upload function in wp-admin/includes/media.php in WordPress before 4.6.1 might allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML by tricking an administrator into uploading an image file that has a crafted filename.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | wordpress | 4.6.1+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | wordpress | 4.6.1+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | wordpress | 4.6.1+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | wordpress | 4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u10 | DSA-3681-1 |
| Debian 7 | wordpress | 3.6.1+dfsg-1~deb7u12 | DLA-633-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 2
- DLA-633-1 wordpress - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3681-1 wordpress - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- https://github.com/WordPress/WordPress/commit/c9e60dab176635d4bfaaf431c0ea891e4726d6e0
- https://sumofpwn.nl/advisory/2016/persistent_cross_site_scripting_vulnerability_in_wordpress_due_to_unsafe_processing_of_file_names.html
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8615
- [oss-security] 20160908 Re: Persistent Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability in WordPress due to unsafe processing of file names mailing-list
- 92841 vdb-entry
- https://wordpress.org/news/2016/09/wordpress-4-6-1-security-and-maintenance-release/
- https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_4.6.1
- DSA-3681 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20160908 Persistent Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability in WordPress due to unsafe processing of file names mailing-list