Vulnerability report

Active exploitation observed Confirmed confidence Not in CISA KEV

CVE-2026-87902

WordPress Remote Code Execution

WordPress / WordPress · affected before 7.1.2

View live feed Monitor via API Watch CVE-2026-87902
Severity
CVSS 8.1 · High
Confidence
Confirmed
Exploit status
Observed in sensors
EPSS
0.4%
First observed
23 Sep 2026
Last observed
23 Sep 2026

Decision summary

What security teams need to know first

Direct answers before the deeper technical record.

What it is

CVE-2026-87902 is an unauthenticated vulnerability affecting WordPress WordPress. An unauthenticated attacker can make `get_page_template()` page-template resolution include a chosen readable local `.php` file outside...

Is it exploited?

Yes. Previdian sensors observed exploitation attempts with confirmed confidence.

Who is affected?

WordPress / WordPress affected before 7.1.2.

What should we do?

Patch immediately, validate internet-facing exposure, and monitor for matching requests.

Overview

WordPress Remote Code Execution

An unauthenticated attacker can make `get_page_template()` page-template resolution include a chosen readable local `.php` file outside the active theme directories.

If relevant pre-conditions for both the server and the active theme are met, this can lead to RCE.

WordPress Affected
WordPress
Before 7.1.2
Published
22 Sep 2026
Exploitation Reported
23 Sep 2026
Attack vector
Remote
Complexity
High
Privileges
None
User interaction
None

Tags

wordpress php

CVE References

Exploitation evidence

Why Previdian marks this CVE as exploited

Third-party attestation and first-party sensor observation are shown separately so teams can judge the evidence chain.

Exploited in the wild

Previdian

Recorded 23 Sep 2026

Previdian independently recorded this as exploited after first seeing it in honeypot sensors.

Active exploitation observed

Previdian sensor

First observed 23 Sep 2026

Previdian first observed exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability in our honeypot sensors.

Proof of concept available

Pruva

Recorded 22 Sep 2026

Public scanner or PoC coverage increases practical exploitability.

Known exploited vulnerability sources

Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the Previdian Pro API.

Learn about Pro API access
Source Added
Previdian First 2026-09-23 12:53 UTC

Operational indicators for this CVE are listed under Detection.

Sensor telemetry

First-party evidence of exploitation activity

Previdian sensors recorded exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The cards and chart show volume, unique attackers, and daily activity.

68

Attempts observed

2

Unique attacker IPs

2

Attacker countries

ID · US

1

Sensors observed

CVE-2026-87902 exploitation attempts over the last 7 days

Daily events observed by Previdian sensors

Updated 23 Sep 2026

0
0
0
0
0
0
68
17 Sep 18 Sep 19 Sep 20 Sep 21 Sep 22 Sep 23 Sep

First observed 23 Sep 2026 · Last observed 23 Sep 2026

Pro adds sensor region and window summaries. Enterprise adds raw IPs, paths, User-Agents, and payloads.

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Detection

Operational artifacts and observed signals

Make the evidence actionable in scanner, SOC, and edge-control workflows.

Observed signals

Request targets
User-Agents
Callback hosts
39
1
0

Request targets and User-Agents available in Pro. Callback host details available in Enterprise.

Scanner coverage

No scanner integrations recorded yet.

Virtual patch status

No Previdian virtual patch is currently available. Future rules ship for ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF.

Learn about virtual patches →

Attacker IP Indicators

Attacker IP indicators observed · available in Pro and Enterprise.

Sensor-derived attacker IP indicators are available to Pro and Enterprise accounts under Detection and through the Pro API.

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Risk and context

Severity, weaknesses, and research context

CVSS v3.1

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

EPSS

0.4%

Weaknesses

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') CWE-98

Recent mention · NCSC Security Advisories

NCSC-2026-0389 [1.00] [M/H] Kwetsbaarheid verholpen in WordPress

De ontwikkelaars van WordPress hebben een kwetsbaarheid verholpen in WordPress. Een kwaadwillende kan de kwetsbaarheid met kenmerk CVE-2026-87902 misbruiken, om zonder authenticatie een lokaal PHP-bestand buiten de actieve themamappen door WordPress te laten inladen. Onder...

Read full advisory

All Mentions

Recent mention · NCSC Security Advisories

NCSC-2026-0389 [1.00] [M/H] Kwetsbaarheid verholpen in WordPress

NCSC Security Advisories · 23 Sep 2026

De ontwikkelaars van WordPress hebben een kwetsbaarheid verholpen in WordPress. Een kwaadwillende kan de kwetsbaarheid met kenmerk CVE-2026-87902 misbruiken, om zonder authenticatie een lokaal PHP-bestand buiten de actieve themamappen door WordPress te laten inladen. Onder bepaalde voorwaarden met betrekking tot het actieve thema en de serverconfiguratie kan de kwetsbaarheid leiden tot het uitvoeren van willekeurige code op de server. Hierdoor kan een kwaadwillende mogelijk toegang krijgen tot gevoelige gegevens, wijzigingen aanbrengen of verdere controle verkrijgen over de getroffen...

Recent mention · Security Affairs

EvilTokens made phishing-as-a-service look easy. Then it got taken down

Security Affairs · 23 Sep 2026

Microsoft, Coinbase and law enforcement took down EvilTokens, a phishing kit that compromised 12,000 inboxes through device-code phishing and AI. EvilTokens showed up in February 2026 and moved fast. Within months it had compromised more than 12,000 inboxes across over 10,000 organizations. Microsoft says the EvilTokens platform, operated by Storm-2992, is a phishing-as-a-service kit sold […]

Recent mention · Security Affairs

Fake LastPass on GitHub Led to an Infostealer That Killed 145 Security Tools

Security Affairs · 23 Sep 2026

Attackers spoofed LastPass on GitHub, used a Microsoft-signed driver to disable 145 security products, then deployed an infostealer. Someone impersonated LastPass on GitHub, got users to download a fake authenticator, and ended up killing 145 different antivirus and EDR products using a driver that Microsoft itself had signed. That last part is the one worth […]

Recent mention · Security Affairs

CVE-2026-87902: how close is your WordPress to remote code execution?

Security Affairs · 23 Sep 2026

WordPress 7.1.2 fixes an unauthenticated file inclusion bug active since version 4.7, patchable but exploitable into remote code execution. WordPress 7.1.2 shipped on September 22 address an unauthenticated local file inclusion, tracked as CVE-2026-87902 (CVSS score of 9.2), which stems of how the CMS resolves page templates, with a real path to remote code execution. […]

Recent mention · Wordfence

PSA: Critical Unauthenticated Path Traversal Vulnerability Patched in WordPress Core

Wordfence · 22 Sep 2026

WordPress has released security updates for a critical unauthenticated path traversal vulnerability that can lead to local PHP file inclusion and, on affected server and theme configurations, remote code execution. Site owners should update WordPress Core immediately. The post PSA: Critical Unauthenticated Path Traversal Vulnerability Patched in WordPress Core appeared first on Wordfence.

Recent mention · TheHackerNews

WordPress Issues Patch for Critical Flaw That Can Enable Code Execution on Some Servers

TheHackerNews · 22 Sep 2026

WordPress has fixed a critical flaw in its core software that lets an attacker with no account make a site load a PHP file from outside its theme folders. On some servers, that can go further, allowing the attacker to run their own code. The fix shipped on September 22 in WordPress 7.1.2, with fixes for every branch the project still supports, back to 4.7, and WordPress is telling site owners

Potential Proof of Concepts

These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.

tc4dy/CVE-2026-87902-Toolkit

github · Created 2026-09-23 19:21:48 UTC · 1 stars · AI assessment 90%

CVE-2026-87902 – WordPress Core LFI→RCE Toolkit (CVSS 9.2) - Red/Blue Team suite for WordPress 4.7–7.1.1. 🛠️ 2 tools: Full Exploit (LFI, PEAR RCE, admin create, webshell, reverse shell, loot, mass scan, stealth) & SafeChecker (version detect, risk audit, JSON report). 🔨 Use Ethically & Authorized Enviorement, Stay Legal <3

bhideki/CVE-2026-87902

github · Created 2026-09-23 15:43:38 UTC · 1 stars · AI assessment 90%

CVE-2026-87902: PoC for WordPress's critical path traversal

Hassham1/CVE-2026-87902

github · Created 2026-09-23 11:54:00 UTC · 0 stars · AI assessment 90%

WordPress Core <= 7.1.1 unauthenticated LFI to RCE - validation lab, PoC, nuclei template (GHSA-7hp8-65ch-5whp)

zer0dayf/CVE-2026-87902

github · Created 2026-09-23 11:03:07 UTC · 0 stars · AI assessment 85%

WordPress Core unauthenticated path traversal in get_page_template() page-template resolution leading to conditional RCE

pruva · Created 2026-09-22 19:34:54 UTC

Severity: CRITICAL | GHSA: GHSA-7hp8-65ch-5whp | CVE: CVE-2026-87902 | Package: WordPress/wordpress-develop

vulpecuna/CVE-2026-87902

github · Created 2026-09-22 18:32:56 UTC · 1 stars · AI assessment 90%

Unauthenticated RCE on Wordpress

abraxas/CVE-2026-87902

github · Created 2026-09-22 18:13:48 UTC · 1 stars · AI assessment 85%

CVE-2026-87902 - WordPress - WordPress Core - High 8.1 - Unauthenticated GET /?page_id={id}&pagename=templates%252... - Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion (conditional RCE)

Timeline

From disclosure to observed exploitation

  1. 12:32 UTC

    Indicators of compromise added (2)

    Indicators of compromise recorded

  2. 12:32 UTC

    Observed by Previdian sensors

    Evidence-backed exploitation signal

  3. 18:45 UTC

    Added to the Previdian watchlist

    Pro and Enterprise Watch users had 1 day of early warning before Previdian confirmed it as a KEV.

  4. 18:13 UTC

    Public PoC available

    Public proof-of-concept code published

  5. 16:44 UTC

    CVE published

    Vulnerability disclosed publicly

  6. 15:00 UTC

    CVE ID reserved

    Identifier reserved by the CNA

Pro API

Automate this intelligence

Confidence, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.

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  • Evidence confidence and provenance
  • First-party sensor telemetry
  • PoC and scanner references
  • Affected versions and enrichment
  • Automation-ready JSON delivery

GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2026-87902

Free JSON includes basic KEV fields 
{
  "cve_id": "CVE-2026-87902",
  "confidence": "Confirmed",
  "cvss_score": 8.1,
  "cvss_estimated": false,
  "epss_score": 0.0042,
  "exploit_status": {
    "exploited_in_the_wild": true,
    "active_exploitation_observed": true
  },
  "sensor_telemetry": { "attempts": 68, "sensors": 1 }
}