CVE-2019-16780: Debian Linux

Medium severity, CVSS 5.4. EPSS: 1.7% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

WordPress users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor using a specific payload, which is executed within the dashboard. This can lead to XSS if an admin opens the post in the editor. Execution of this attack does require an authenticated user. This has been patched in WordPress 5.3.1, along with all the previous WordPress versions from 3.7 to 5.3 via a minor release. Automatic updates are enabled by default for minor releases and we strongly recommend that you keep them enabled.

Affected products

• Debian Debian Linux: version 9.0 only; version 10.0 only
• WordPress WordPress: after 3.7, before 5.3.1 (fixed in 5.3.1); version 3.7 only

Published 2019-12-26. Last modified 2026-06-17.