CVE-2011-4898
wp-admin/setup-config.php in the installation component in WordPress 3.3.1 and earlier generates different error messages for requests…
- Published
- Updated
- Reserved
- Assigned by
- mitre
Description
wp-admin/setup-config.php in the installation component in WordPress 3.3.1 and earlier generates different error messages for requests lacking a dbname parameter depending on whether the MySQL credentials are valid, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct brute-force attacks via a series of requests with different uname and pwd parameters. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this issue; also, it is unclear whether providing intentionally vague error messages during installation would be reasonable from a usability perspective
Public exploit
A reference of the record is tagged as an exploit or proof of concept: anyone can try it against an unpatched system.
- 18417 (opens in a new tab)exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBx_transferred
Timeline
ID reserved
By mitre
- 38 days later
· 38 days later
Published
- 13 years later
· 13 years later
Record updated
Changes after publication (a new score, a public exploit, EPSS crossing 1, 10 or 50 %, leaving KEV) are kept since November 2026; earlier ones are not known.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDNVD · Modified | 2.0 | Medium5.0 | AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 9.2% · top 4.6% of all CVEs (8 Nov 2026)
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: Medium 5.0.
Weakness
Affected products
n/a
- affected n/a
References (3)
- 18417 (opens in a new tab)exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBx_transferred
- https://www.trustwave.com/spiderlabs/advisories/TWSL2012-002.txt (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
- 20120124 TWSL2012-002: Multiple Vulnerabilities in WordPress (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_BUGTRAQx_transferred
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://cveledger.app/cve/CVE-2011-4898)Record last updated .