---
title: "CVE-2026-119977: WordPress WordPress Core Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-119977/
description: "CVE-2026-119977 (WordPress WordPress Core): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). WordPress Core is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in versions 4.7 through…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-10-31
date_modified: 2026-11-04
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-119977"
kev: true
cvss: 8.1
epss: 0.0102
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-119977: WordPress WordPress Core Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run WordPress WordPress Core. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-11-03, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-11-06 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 1.0% , percentile 64: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.0% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 64% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Editorial verdict: Act now. WordPress 7.1.4: Unauthenticated Upgrade-Window RCE — CISA now lists this as exploited and Wordfence is blocking thousands of attempts a day; the window is narrow, but confirm today that every site is on 7.1.4 or its branch backport and block PHP under wp-content/upgrade/.

## What it is

WordPress Core is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in versions 4.7 through 7.1.3. This is due to predictable, web-accessible staging paths used during full-package core upgrades. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to execute code on the server during the upgrade window.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- WordPress Foundation WordPress: 4.7.0 <= 4.7.38, 4.8.0 <= 4.8.33, 4.9.0 <= 4.9.34, 5.0.0 <= 5.0.30, 5.1.0 <= 5.1.27, 5.2.0 <= 5.2.29, 5.3.0 <= 5.3.26, 5.4.0 <= 5.4.24, 5.5.0 <= 5.5.23, 5.6.0 <= 5.6.22, 5.7.0 <= 5.7.20, 5.8.0 <= 5.8.18

## Severity

- Wordfence CVSS 3.1: 8.1 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2026-11-03; federal due date 2026-11-06. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-11-04): 1.02% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 64.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (wordpress.org)](https://wordpress.org/news/2026/10/wordpress-7-1-4)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (wordfence.com)](https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-core/wordpress-core-470-713-unauthenticated-upgrade-window-staged-installer-remote-code-execution)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-119977](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-119977)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-119977](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-119977)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-119977)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (cisa.gov)](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (cisa.gov)](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk)
- [wordfence.com](https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4b4da0cf-d9f4-47c4-a0e8-6c4dc5a6f250?source=cve)
- [core.trac.wordpress.org](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.3/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-upgrader.php#L378)
- [core.trac.wordpress.org](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.3/src/wp-admin/includes/class-core-upgrader.php#L162)
- [core.trac.wordpress.org](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.3/src/wp-admin/includes/update-core.php#L1549)
- [core.trac.wordpress.org](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.3/src/wp-admin/setup-config.php#L282)
- [core.trac.wordpress.org](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.4/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-upgrader.php#L346)
- [core.trac.wordpress.org](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/7.1.4/src/wp-admin/includes/update-core.php#L1545)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-119977/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt