CVE-2020-17496

KEVvBulletin PHP Module Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Description

The PHP module within vBulletin contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for remote code execution via crafted subWidgets data in an ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_panel request. This CVE ID resolves an incomplete patch for CVE-2019-16759.

vBulletin 5.5.4 through 5.6.2 allows remote command execution via crafted subWidgets data in an ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_panel request. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2019-16759.

CVSS 3.1 vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

PublishedAug 12, 2020

Last modifiedJun 17, 2026

Added to KEVNov 3, 2021

Remediation dueMay 3, 2022

References

blog.exploitee.rs/2020/exploiting-vbulletin-a-tale-of-patch-fail/ExploitThird Party Advisory
cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/78.htmlTechnical Description
forum.vbulletin.com/forum/vbulletin-announcements/vbulletin-announcements_aa/4445227-vbulletin-5-6-0-5-6-1-5-6-2-security-patchPatchVendor Advisory
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/5ExploitMailing List
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-17496US Government Resource

0 recent articles mention this CVE

Risk assessment · Critical

Actively exploited. Patch immediately.

Exploitation: Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
Federal remediation deadline: Overdue by 1639 days
CVSS: 9.8 CRITICAL
EPSS (30-day exploit probability): 87.5% · top 1% of all CVEs
Weakness: CWE-74
Attack vector: Network, remotely reachable
Preconditions: No privileges and no user interaction

Recommended actions

1.Apply updates per vendor instructions.
2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
3.Review exposure: confirm which instances are reachable from the internet and restrict access until patched.
4.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.

Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.