Description
is_protected_meta in wp-includes/meta.php in WordPress before 5.5.2 allows arbitrary file deletion because it does not properly determine whether a meta key is considered protected.
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 | 5.5.3+dfsg1-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | wordpress | 5.5.3+dfsg1-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | wordpress | 5.5.3+dfsg1-1 | — |
| Debian 10 | wordpress | 5.0.11+dfsg1-0+deb10u1 | DSA-4784-1 |
| Debian 9 | wordpress | 4.7.19+dfsg-1+deb9u1 | DLA-2429-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | wordpress | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 2
- DSA-4784-1 wordpress - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2429-1 wordpress - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- https://wordpress.org/news/2020/10/wordpress-5-5-2-security-and-maintenance-release/
- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/10452
- https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/commit/d5ddd6d4be1bc9fd16b7796842e6fb26315705ad
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201103 [SECURITY] [DLA 2429-1] wordpress security update mailing-list
- DSA-4784 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2020-15e15c35da vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2020-a764b11b52 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2020-b386fac43a vendor-advisory