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Home / Blog / wordpress 4.9
Security Advisory

WordPress 4.9: 114 CVEs Found - Critical Security Update Guide

📅 June 07, 2026 ·⏱ 5 min read ·🔒 SiteRecipe Security Team
41 websites still running wordpress 4.9  → View full list
114
Total
8
Critical
26
High
78
Medium
2
Low

WordPress 4.9 is an outdated version released in 2017 that contains 114 known security vulnerabilities, including 8 critical flaws that could allow attackers to gain complete control of your website. Currently, 41 websites are still running this vulnerable version, putting their data and visitors at serious risk. If your site is among them, you need to take action immediately.

The most dangerous vulnerabilities in WordPress 4.9 include remote code execution attacks through popular plugins, PHP object injection flaws, and authentication bypass exploits. These aren't theoretical threats—they're actively exploited by cybercriminals to compromise websites daily. This guide will help you identify if your site is vulnerable and show you exactly how to fix it.

We've analyzed all 114 CVEs affecting WordPress 4.9 to create this comprehensive security guide. Whether you manage a small blog or a business website, understanding these risks and taking action is essential for protecting your online presence.

What is Wordpress 4.9?

WordPress 4.9 is a content management system version released in November 2017. It's the software that powers the backend of millions of websites, allowing users to create, manage, and publish content without technical coding knowledge. WordPress 4.9 introduced features like the Gutenberg editor and improved media handling, making it easier for website owners to manage their sites.

However, WordPress 4.9 is now severely outdated. The WordPress development team has released dozens of major versions since then, each fixing critical security issues discovered in older versions. Continuing to use WordPress 4.9 is like leaving your front door unlocked—it might work, but the risks far outweigh any benefits. Modern versions include essential security patches that protect against evolving threats, while older versions become progressively more vulnerable as hackers find and exploit new weaknesses.

Key Vulnerabilities in Wordpress 4.9

114 CVEs found. The most critical are explained below.

CRITICAL CVE-2017-16562 9.8/10 · CVSS v3.0 ⏱ Immediate
UserPro Plugin Admin Account Hijacking

The UserPro plugin has a security flaw that allows attackers to log in as an administrator without knowing the password, but only if your admin account is named 'admin' (the default name). This is like someone being able to walk through a door that should be locked.

Impact: An attacker could gain complete control of your website, steal data, modify content, or install malware. Your entire site could be compromised.

↗ View on NVD
CRITICAL CVE-2015-9271 9.8/10 · CVSS v3.0 ⏱ Immediate
VideoWhisper Plugin Allows Code Execution

The VideoWhisper video conference plugin has a flaw in how it checks file types. Attackers can upload dangerous files disguised as harmless ones, allowing them to run malicious code on your server.

Impact: Hackers could execute any commands on your server, steal sensitive information, deface your website, or use it to attack other sites.

↗ View on NVD
CRITICAL CVE-2018-20148 9.8/10 · CVSS v3.0 ⏱ Immediate
WordPress Core PHP Injection Vulnerability

WordPress versions before 4.9.9 have a flaw in how they process media files through XML-RPC requests. Attackers can inject malicious code through specially crafted requests, even with contributor-level access.

Impact: Attackers could inject and execute harmful code on your website, potentially taking it over or stealing data.

↗ View on NVD
CRITICAL CVE-2024-10470 9.8/10 · CVSS v3.1 ⏱ Immediate
WPLMS Learning Plugin File Access Vulnerability

The WPLMS Learning Management System plugin doesn't properly check user permissions before allowing file access. This means unauthorized people can read or delete files on your server.

Impact: Attackers could access confidential files, delete critical website data, or cause your site to stop working.

↗ View on NVD
CRITICAL CVE-2025-10412 9.8/10 · CVSS v3.1 ⏱ Immediate
Uni CPO WooCommerce Plugin Unauthorized File Upload

The Product Options and Price Calculation plugin for WooCommerce doesn't properly validate file uploads. Attackers can upload malicious files (like executable code) disguised as legitimate documents.

Impact: Malicious files uploaded to your server could be executed to hack your site, steal customer data, or spread malware.

↗ View on NVD
CRITICAL CVE-2023-5212 9.6/10 · CVSS v3.1 ⏱ Immediate
AI ChatBot Plugin Allows File Deletion

The AI ChatBot plugin has a permission flaw that lets even low-level user accounts (subscribers) delete any file on your server. This shouldn't be possible—only administrators should have this power.

Impact: Attackers or disgruntled users could delete critical website files, causing your site to malfunction or become inaccessible.

↗ View on NVD

Additional Vulnerabilities (108 more)

Showing first 10 of 108. View all on NVD ↗

CVE IDSeverityScore PublishedDescription
CVE-2023-5241 CRITICAL 9.6 2023-10-19 The AI ChatBot for WordPress is vulnerable to Directory Traversal in versions up to, and including, 4.8.9 as well as 4.9.2 via the qcld_openai_upload_pagetraining_file function. T…
CVE-2024-2472 CRITICAL 9.1 2024-06-14 The LatePoint Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data and modification of data due to a missing capability check on the 'start_or_use_session_for_…
CVE-2017-17091 HIGH 8.8 2017-12-02 wp-admin/user-new.php in WordPress before 4.9.1 sets the newbloguser key to a string that can be directly derived from the user ID, which allows remote attackers to bypass intende…
CVE-2018-12895 HIGH 8.8 2018-06-26 WordPress through 4.9.6 allows Author users to execute arbitrary code by leveraging directory traversal in the wp-admin/post.php thumb parameter, which is passed to the PHP unlink…
CVE-2017-1000600 HIGH 8.8 2018-09-06 WordPress version <4.9 contains a CWE-20 Input Validation vulnerability in thumbnail processing that can result in remote code execution. This attack appears to be exploitable via…
CVE-2018-1000773 HIGH 8.8 2018-09-06 WordPress version 4.9.8 and earlier contains a CWE-20 Input Validation vulnerability in thumbnail processing that can result in remote code execution due to an incomplete fix for …
CVE-2019-8942 HIGH 8.8 2019-02-20 WordPress before 4.9.9 and 5.x before 5.0.1 allows remote code execution because an _wp_attached_file Post Meta entry can be changed to an arbitrary string, such as one ending wit…
CVE-2023-0630 HIGH 8.8 2023-03-20 The Slimstat Analytics WordPress plugin before 4.9.3.3 does not prevent subscribers from rendering shortcodes that concatenates attributes directly into an SQL query.
CVE-2024-8247 HIGH 8.8 2024-09-06 The Newsletters plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to privilege escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.9.9.2. This is due to the plugin not restricting what user meta …
CVE-2020-11026 HIGH 8.7 2020-04-30 In affected versions of WordPress, files with a specially crafted name when uploaded to the Media section can lead to script execution upon accessing the file. This requires an au…
Full Report Available

All 114 CVEs with AI explanations + fix guide

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How to Fix These Vulnerabilities

Conclusion

WordPress 4.9 is a security liability that puts your website, user data, and business reputation at serious risk. With 8 critical vulnerabilities and 26 high-severity flaws, staying on this version is like inviting hackers into your site. The good news is that upgrading is straightforward and takes less than an hour for most websites.

Don't leave your website vulnerable another day. SiteRecipe.com provides comprehensive security monitoring and automated vulnerability scanning that identifies outdated versions and dangerous plugins in real-time. Our platform alerts you instantly when new CVEs are discovered and provides step-by-step remediation guides tailored to your specific WordPress setup. Start your free security scan today and get peace of mind knowing your website is protected against the latest threats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will upgrading from WordPress 4.9 break my website?
Upgrading can occasionally cause compatibility issues with very old themes or plugins, but this is rare with proper preparation. Always backup first, update your plugins and themes beforehand, and test in a staging environment if possible. Most websites upgrade without any problems.
Why hasn't WordPress 4.9 received security patches?
WordPress only provides security updates to versions released within the last 3-4 years. WordPress 4.9 was released in 2017, making it far beyond the support window. New vulnerabilities discovered in old versions are never patched—you must upgrade to a supported version.
What happens if my site gets hacked through a WordPress 4.9 vulnerability?
Attackers could steal customer data, inject malware, create unauthorized admin accounts, display spam or malicious content, or use your site to attack other websites. Recovery costs thousands of dollars and can take weeks. Prevention through updating is far cheaper than dealing with a breach.
Can I skip versions and jump directly to the latest WordPress?
Yes, you can upgrade directly from WordPress 4.9 to the latest version. WordPress is designed to handle large version jumps automatically. However, ensuring your themes and plugins are compatible with current versions beforehand will smooth the process.
How often should WordPress be updated after upgrading from 4.9?
Enable automatic updates in WordPress settings so security patches install immediately without requiring manual action. Additionally, check for major version updates every few months and apply them promptly to stay protected against newly discovered vulnerabilities.

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DISCLAIMER: This report is based on publicly available CVE data from the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) maintained by NIST. Detection of a technology version does not confirm active exploitation on any specific website. For informational purposes only. SiteRecipe is not responsible for actions taken based on this report. Always consult a qualified security professional.

Source: nvd.nist.gov · Published: June 07, 2026 · SiteRecipe.com