CVE-2020-10388: The way the Referer header in article.php is handled in Chadha PHPKB Standard Multi-Language 9 allows attacker

Routine

MEDIUM 5.4DOWNGRADE

CVE-2020-10388 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.4) affecting phpkb. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The way the Referer header in article.php is handled in Chadha PHPKB Standard Multi-Language 9 allows attackers to execute Stored (Blind) XSS (injecting arbitrary web script or HTML) in admin/report-referrers.php (vulnerable file admin/include/functions-articles.php).

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.4 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.6% (top 51%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-79
Published	2020-03-12
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: chadhaajay

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-03-12 14:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:47 UTCUpdated Record last modified

chadhaajay phpkb DOWNGRADE

Affected: 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy phpkb || rpm -q phpkb || phpkb --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 9.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison phpkb sudo apt install phpkb=<VERSION_BEFORE_9.0> sudo apt-mark hold phpkb

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list phpkb sudo dnf downgrade phpkb-<VERSION_BEFORE_9.0> sudo dnf versionlock add phpkb

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-10388?

phpkb: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-10388 being exploited?

CVE-2020-10388 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-10388 affect?

CVE-2020-10388 affects phpkb. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.4). The way the Referer header in article.php is handled in Chadha PHPKB Standard Multi-Language 9 allows attackers to execute Stored (Blind) XSS (injecting arbitrary web script or HTML) in admin/report-referrers.php (vulnerable file admin/incl

How urgent is CVE-2020-10388?

Priority 36/100. Public exploit reference

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

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References

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