CVE-2026-87902: WordPress Core Remote File Inclusion Vulnerability
What it is
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.
What to do
Schedule the vendor fix into this week’s change window, prioritising internet-facing and business-critical systems. Confirm the fix is applied everywhere, not just where it was easy.
- Priority
- This week: Schedule into this week’s change window.
- Severity (CVSS)
- 8.1 high
- CISA assessment (SSVC)
- actively exploited; needs manual effort per target; total control of the affected system
- Exploit probability (EPSS, 30 days)
- 40%, higher than 98% of all CVEs
- Added to CISA KEV
- 25 September 2026
- CISA fix-by date
- 28 September 2026 (US federal agencies; a sensible deadline for everyone)
- Ransomware use
- Not known
- Weakness
- CWE-98
References
- NIST NVD entry
- CISA KEV entry
- github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/GHSA-7hp8-65ch-5whp
- patchstack.com/articles/cve-2026-87902-attackers-started-probing-wordpress-sites
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-87902
Sources: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities · FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) · NIST National Vulnerability Database · CISA Vulnrichment (SSVC), via the CVE Program. This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Summaries are machine-written from CISA’s description; treat the vendor’s advisory as the authority for fixes.