Description
wp-includes/general-template.php in WordPress before 4.9.1 does not properly restrict the lang attribute of an HTML element, which might allow attackers to conduct XSS attacks via the language setting of a site.
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 | 4.9.1+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | wordpress | 4.9.1+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | wordpress | 4.9.1+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 9 | wordpress | 4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u2 | DSA-4090-1 |
| Debian 8 | wordpress | 4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u16 | DSA-4090-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 7 | wordpress | 3.6.1+dfsg-1~deb7u20 | DLA-1216-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 2
- DSA-4090-1 wordpress - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-1216-1 wordpress - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- DSA-4090 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20171221 [SECURITY] [DLA 1216-1] wordpress security update mailing-list
- https://github.com/WordPress/WordPress/commit/3713ac5ebc90fb2011e98dfd691420f43da6c09a
- 102024 vdb-entry
- https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_4.9.1
- https://wordpress.org/news/2017/11/wordpress-4-9-1-security-and-maintenance-release/
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8968