PatchTheCVECVE-2024-6158: The Category Posts Widget WordPress plugin before 4.9.17, term-and-category-based-posts-widget WordPress plugi
CVE-2024-6158 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.8) affecting term and category based posts widget, category posts widget. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
The Category Posts Widget WordPress plugin before 4.9.17, term-and-category-based-posts-widget WordPress plugin before 4.9.13 does not validate and escape some of its "Category Posts" widget settings before outputting them back in a page/post where the Widget is embed, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite
Why this priority
- Public exploit reference
A fixed release or distro patch exists.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 4.8 (Medium) |
| Attack vector | Network (remote) |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges needed | High |
| User interaction | Required |
| EPSS exploit chance | 0.4% (top 62%) |
| CISA exploited list | No |
| Weakness | CWE-79 |
| Published | 2024-08-12 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-17 |
Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Updated Record last modified
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-2024-6158?
term and category based posts widget: upgrade to 4.9.13; category posts widget: upgrade to 4.9.17. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2024-6158 being exploited?
CVE-2024-6158 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-2024-6158 affect?
CVE-2024-6158 affects term and category based posts widget, category posts widget. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.8). The Category Posts Widget WordPress plugin before 4.9.17, term-and-category-based-posts-widget WordPress plugin before 4.9.13 does not validate and escape some of its "Category Posts" widget settings before outputting them back in a page/po
How urgent is CVE-2024-6158?
Priority 31/100. Public exploit reference