Description
WordPress through 4.7.4 relies on the Host HTTP header for a password-reset e-mail message, which makes it easier for remote attackers to reset arbitrary passwords by making a crafted wp-login.php?action=lostpassword request and then arranging for this message to bounce or be resent, leading to transmission of the reset key to a mailbox on an attacker-controlled SMTP server. This is related to problematic use of the SERVER_NAME variable in wp-includes/pluggable.php in conjunction with the PHP mail function. Exploitation is not achievable in all cases because it requires at least one of the following: (1) the attacker can prevent the victim from receiving any e-mail messages for an extended period of time (such as 5 days), (2) the victim's e-mail system sends an autoresponse containing the original message, or (3) the victim manually composes a reply containing the original message.
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 | 4.7.5+dfsg-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | wordpress | 4.7.5+dfsg-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | wordpress | 4.7.5+dfsg-2 | — |
| Debian 8 | wordpress | 4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u14 | DSA-3870-1 |
| Debian 7 | wordpress | 3.6.1+dfsg-1~deb7u15 | DLA-975-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Exploit-DB 1
- WordPress Core < 4.7.4 - Unauthorized Password Reset EDB-41963 · webapps · May 3, 2017
GitHub 3 repositories
-
cyberheartmi9/CVE-2017-8295 ★ 20 · May 6, 2017
-
alash3al/wp-allowed-hosts ★ 2 · May 5, 2017
a plugin that protects your wp site from the CVE-2017-8295 vulnerability
-
homjxi0e/CVE-2017-8295-WordPress-4.7.4---Unauthorized-Password-Reset ★ 0 · May 4, 2017
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DLA-975-1 wordpress - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3870-1 wordpress - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 41963 exploit
- https://exploitbox.io/vuln/WordPress-Exploit-4-7-Unauth-Password-Reset-0day-CVE-2017-8295.html
- DSA-3870 vendor-advisory
- 1038403 vdb-entry
- 98295 vdb-entry
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8807