WordPress Time Capsule Plugin 1.21.16 Authentication Bypass
Priority HIGH 77CWE-288Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-288.
Summary
WordPress Time Capsule Plugin 1.21.16 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to gain administrative access by sending a crafted POST request with the IWP_JSON_PREFIX header. Attackers can exploit this flaw to obtain valid administrator session cookies and access the WordPress dashboard without providing credentials.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00629 50th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by the CNA
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wptimecapsule | Time Capsule Plugin | up to 1.21.16 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Time Capsule Plugin VendorWptimecapsule Affected up to 1.21.16 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-37255
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4jwp-2g8r-6m99
- 2026-10-29 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
References
Exploit 1
Other 1
More Wptimecapsule vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-07032 The Time Capsule plugin before 1.21.16 for WordPress has an authentication bypass. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2020-37255 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-37255 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4jwp-2g8r-6m99 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences