CVE-2026-87902
WordPress Core · CMS, e-commerce and websites
WordPress Core Remote File Inclusion Vulnerability
At a glance
Exploited. Added to CISA’s catalog of exploited vulnerabilities on September 25, 2026.
CISA asks you to hunt for signs of compromise: patching is not enough if the device has already been breached.
Affected product: WordPress Core (category CMS, e-commerce and websites, indicative classification). Name in CISA’s catalog: WordPress Core.
What should I do?
Apply the patches or mitigations from WordPress; if none are available, stop using the product. Start with internet-facing devices.
CISA also asks you to hunt for signs of compromise: patching is not enough if the device has already been breached.
Deadline set by CISA for US federal agencies: 3 days (due September 28, 2026). It only binds those agencies, but it is a useful measure of urgency.
- WordPress security advisories page (general page, not the advisory for this vulnerability)
- The vendor’s specific advisory is listed in the NVD references: CVE-2026-87902 on the NVD website.
Original text of the required action (CISA)
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.
Timeline
- Vulnerability published Publication date (NVD)
- Exploitation confirmed Added to CISA’s KEV catalog
- CISA deadline Remediation deadline set for US federal agencies
The facts, with their sources
- Exploitation confirmed
- Yes, on September 25, 2026 Date added to the catalog of exploited vulnerabilities. Exploitation itself may have started earlier. Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- Ransomware
- No known use to date That does not guarantee it is not being used: the information is not public. Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- Hunt for compromise
- Requested by CISA Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- CISA required action
- Apply the patches or mitigations from WordPress; if none are available, stop using the product. Start with internet-facing devices. Rewritten by this site from CISA’s original text. Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- CISA deadline
- September 28, 2026, 3 days Set for US federal agencies: a measure of urgency, not an obligation elsewhere. Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- Vulnerability published
- September 22, 2026 Source: National Vulnerability Database (NVD), collected September 29, 2026 at 15:00 UTC
- Product according to CISA
- WordPress Core Filed by this site under “CMS, e-commerce and websites” (indicative classification). Source: KEV catalog, collected September 29, 2026 at 14:57 UTC
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Technical detail of the score: attack vector, complexity, impact. Source: National Vulnerability Database (NVD), collected September 29, 2026 at 15:00 UTC
Severity and activity
Score from the vendor or CISA, relayed by the NVD. Collected Sep 29, 2026.
FIRST’s EPSS model. Since exploitation is already confirmed, this figure is mostly useful to compare activity. Collected Sep 29, 2026.
Description
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.
Official description from the NVD, collected Sep 29, 2026. CVE® description © The MITRE Corporation.
WordPress Core contains a remote file inclusion vulnerability which could allow an unauthenticated attacker to make page-template resolution include a chosen readable local `.php` file outside the active theme directories, leading to remote code execution.
Summary from CISA (KEV catalog).
CERT-FR advisories
- CERTFR-2026-AVI-1216: Vulnérabilité dans WordPress (updated September 23, 2026)
Information reused under the Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab); the date of last update is shown for each advisory. This site is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by ANSSI.
Sources for this page
- CISA KEV catalog: exploitation, date added, required action, deadline, ransomware.
- NVD (NIST): CVSS severity, publication date, description, vendor references.
- EPSS (FIRST): probability of exploitation.
- CERT-FR: advisories and alerts (in French).
- Brand and category: indicative classification by this site (method).