CVE-2019-16759

CRITICALNVD 9.89.8
EchelonGraph scoreHIGH confidence

Score elevated to 9.8 because this CVE is listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2021-11-03), indicating real-world exploitation has been confirmed by US federal agencies. NVD baseline CVSS 9.8 retained for reference. Confidence: HIGH.

Triggered by: CISA KEV (actively exploited)
Sources: cisa_kev, epss, ghsa, nvd
Trending — 4 sources updated this weekExploited in the wild
9.8
EchelonGraph verdictPatch nowTreat as an emergency — this is being exploited.
  • Actively exploited in the wild (CISA-KEV)
CISA-KEV: ExploitedEPSS: 100%CVSS: 9.8Exploit: NoneExposed: 0

No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.

vBulletin 5.x through 5.5.4 allows remote command execution via the widgetConfig[code] parameter in an ajax/render/widget_php routestring request.

CVSS v3
9.8
EG Score
9.8(high)
EG Risk
99(Act)
EG Risk 99/100SSVC: Act

EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).

How it’s computed
Severity98% × 45%
Exploitation100% × 40%
Automatability100% × 15%
Action: Fix now — active exploitation, automatable, high impact.
EPSS
100.0%
KEV
⚠ Exploited

Published

September 24, 2019

Last Modified

November 7, 2025

Advisory Details (8)

Auto-updated Jun 1, 2026
⚠️ Active exploitation confirmed. Patch available.
generic Patch Available🔴 Active Exploitation

This vBulletin vBug is vBad: Zero-day exploit lets miscreants hijack vulnerable web forums

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/09/24/vbulletin_vbug_zeroday/
generic

Full Disclosure: vBulletin 5.x 0day pre-auth RCE exploit

https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/31
generic🔴 Active Exploitation

High-severity vulnerability in vBulletin is being actively exploited - Ars Technica

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/09/public-exploit-code-spawns-mass-attacks-against-high-severity-vbulletin-bug/
generic

Full Disclosure: Remote Code Execution 0day in vBulletin 5.x

http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Aug/5

Weakness Classification(2)

MITRE Common Weakness Enumeration — the root-cause categories this CVE belongs to.

Data Freshness Timeline

(refreshed 35× in last 7d / 185× in last 30d)

Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.

Showing the most recent 100 of 360 total refreshes for this CVE.

  1. 2026-07-25 14:14 UTCEPSS rescore
  2. 2026-07-24 14:14 UTCEPSS rescore
  3. 2026-07-24 14:14 UTCEPSS rescore
  4. 2026-07-23 01:41 UTCEG score recompute
  5. 2026-07-22 22:21 UTCEG score recompute
  6. 2026-07-22 20:25 UTCGHSA enrichment
  7. 2026-07-22 19:40 UTCCISA KEV update
  8. 2026-07-22 16:26 UTCGHSA enrichment
  9. 2026-07-22 12:28 UTCGHSA enrichment
  10. 2026-07-22 08:29 UTCGHSA enrichment
  11. 2026-07-22 04:31 UTCGHSA enrichment
  12. 2026-07-22 00:27 UTCGHSA enrichment
  13. 2026-07-21 18:44 UTCEG score recompute
  14. 2026-07-21 18:43 UTCGHSA enrichment
  15. 2026-07-21 15:22 UTCEPSS rescore
  16. 2026-07-21 15:22 UTCEPSS rescore
  17. 2026-07-21 14:44 UTCGHSA enrichment
  18. 2026-07-21 14:37 UTCCISA KEV update
  19. 2026-07-21 10:45 UTCGHSA enrichment
  20. 2026-07-21 06:44 UTCGHSA enrichment
  21. 2026-07-21 02:46 UTCGHSA enrichment
  22. 2026-07-20 22:47 UTCGHSA enrichment
  23. 2026-07-20 18:50 UTCGHSA enrichment
  24. 2026-07-20 14:52 UTCGHSA enrichment
  25. 2026-07-20 10:46 UTCGHSA enrichment
Show 75 more
  1. 2026-07-20 06:49 UTCGHSA enrichment
  2. 2026-07-20 02:50 UTCGHSA enrichment
  3. 2026-07-19 22:51 UTCGHSA enrichment
  4. 2026-07-19 18:53 UTCGHSA enrichment
  5. 2026-07-19 14:55 UTCGHSA enrichment
  6. 2026-07-19 10:58 UTCGHSA enrichment
  7. 2026-07-19 07:00 UTCGHSA enrichment
  8. 2026-07-19 03:02 UTCGHSA enrichment
  9. 2026-07-18 23:04 UTCGHSA enrichment
  10. 2026-07-18 19:05 UTCGHSA enrichment
  11. 2026-07-18 15:07 UTCGHSA enrichment
  12. 2026-07-18 11:08 UTCGHSA enrichment
  13. 2026-07-18 07:10 UTCGHSA enrichment
  14. 2026-07-18 03:12 UTCGHSA enrichment
  15. 2026-07-17 23:13 UTCGHSA enrichment
  16. 2026-07-17 19:15 UTCGHSA enrichment
  17. 2026-07-17 15:17 UTCGHSA enrichment
  18. 2026-07-17 11:19 UTCGHSA enrichment
  19. 2026-07-17 07:21 UTCEG score recompute
  20. 2026-07-17 07:21 UTCGHSA enrichment
  21. 2026-07-17 03:24 UTCGHSA enrichment
  22. 2026-07-16 23:24 UTCGHSA enrichment
  23. 2026-07-16 19:27 UTCGHSA enrichment
  24. 2026-07-16 17:04 UTCCISA KEV update
  25. 2026-07-16 15:27 UTCGHSA enrichment
  26. 2026-07-16 11:29 UTCGHSA enrichment
  27. 2026-07-16 07:31 UTCGHSA enrichment
  28. 2026-07-16 03:33 UTCGHSA enrichment
  29. 2026-07-15 23:35 UTCGHSA enrichment
  30. 2026-07-15 19:37 UTCGHSA enrichment
  31. 2026-07-15 16:49 UTCCISA KEV update
  32. 2026-07-15 15:39 UTCGHSA enrichment
  33. 2026-07-15 15:04 UTCCISA KEV update
  34. 2026-07-15 11:42 UTCGHSA enrichment
  35. 2026-07-15 07:43 UTCGHSA enrichment
  36. 2026-07-15 03:45 UTCGHSA enrichment
  37. 2026-07-14 23:47 UTCGHSA enrichment
  38. 2026-07-14 19:49 UTCGHSA enrichment
  39. 2026-07-14 18:05 UTCCISA KEV update
  40. 2026-07-14 15:50 UTCGHSA enrichment
  41. 2026-07-14 11:52 UTCGHSA enrichment
  42. 2026-07-14 07:54 UTCGHSA enrichment
  43. 2026-07-14 03:55 UTCGHSA enrichment
  44. 2026-07-13 23:57 UTCGHSA enrichment
  45. 2026-07-13 19:59 UTCGHSA enrichment
  46. 2026-07-13 17:07 UTCCISA KEV update
  47. 2026-07-13 16:01 UTCGHSA enrichment
  48. 2026-07-13 12:02 UTCGHSA enrichment
  49. 2026-07-13 08:04 UTCGHSA enrichment
  50. 2026-07-13 04:04 UTCGHSA enrichment
  51. 2026-07-13 00:04 UTCGHSA enrichment
  52. 2026-07-12 20:06 UTCGHSA enrichment
  53. 2026-07-12 16:08 UTCGHSA enrichment
  54. 2026-07-12 12:10 UTCGHSA enrichment
  55. 2026-07-12 08:12 UTCGHSA enrichment
  56. 2026-07-12 04:13 UTCGHSA enrichment
  57. 2026-07-12 00:13 UTCGHSA enrichment
  58. 2026-07-11 20:15 UTCGHSA enrichment
  59. 2026-07-11 16:17 UTCGHSA enrichment
  60. 2026-07-11 12:19 UTCGHSA enrichment
  61. 2026-07-11 08:21 UTCGHSA enrichment
  62. 2026-07-11 04:23 UTCGHSA enrichment
  63. 2026-07-11 00:25 UTCGHSA enrichment
  64. 2026-07-10 20:27 UTCGHSA enrichment
  65. 2026-07-10 17:52 UTCCISA KEV update
  66. 2026-07-10 16:28 UTCGHSA enrichment
  67. 2026-07-10 12:30 UTCGHSA enrichment
  68. 2026-07-10 08:28 UTCGHSA enrichment
  69. 2026-07-10 04:31 UTCGHSA enrichment
  70. 2026-07-10 00:32 UTCGHSA enrichment
  71. 2026-07-09 20:31 UTCGHSA enrichment
  72. 2026-07-09 16:31 UTCGHSA enrichment
  73. 2026-07-09 12:33 UTCGHSA enrichment
  74. 2026-07-09 08:35 UTCGHSA enrichment
  75. 2026-07-09 04:36 UTCGHSA enrichment

Publicly available exploits

(10 references)

Working exploit code is in the public domain (1 Metasploit module) (7 GitHub PoCs) (2 Exploit-DB entries). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.

  • GitHub PoC0xdims/CVE-2019-16759
    First seen Aug 16, 2020

    This tools will extracts and dumps Email + SMTP from vBulletin database server

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCandripwn/pwn-vbulletin
    First seen Dec 29, 2019

    Identify vulnerable (RCE) vBulletin 5.0.0 - 5.5.4 instances using Shodan (CVE-2019-16759)

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCFarjaalAhmad/CVE-2019-16759
    First seen Oct 12, 2019

    Interactive-Like Command-Line Console for CVE-2019-16759

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCtheLSA/vbulletin5-rce
    First seen Oct 2, 2019

    CVE-2019-16759 vbulletin 5.0.0 till 5.5.4 pre-auth rce

    Open source ↗
  • Exploit-DBEDB-47437
    First seen Sep 30, 2019

    vBulletin 5.x - Remote Command Execution (Metasploit)

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCr00tpgp/http-vuln-CVE-2019-16759
    First seen Sep 26, 2019

    Nmap NSE Script to Detect vBulletin pre-auth 5.x RCE CVE-2019-16759

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCjas502n/CVE-2019-16759
    First seen Sep 26, 2019

    vBulletin 5.x 未授权远程代码执行漏洞

    Open source ↗
  • GitHub PoCM0sterHxck/CVE-2019-16759-Vbulletin-rce-exploit
    First seen Sep 25, 2019

    Vbulletin rce exploit CVE-2019-16759

    Open source ↗
  • Exploit-DBEDB-47447
    First seen Sep 23, 2019

    vBulletin 5.0 < 5.5.4 - 'widget_php ' Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution

    Open source ↗
  • Metasploitexploit/multi/http/vbulletin_widgetconfig_rce✓ verified
    First seen Sep 23, 2019

    vBulletin widgetConfig RCE

    Open source ↗

Frequently asked(6)

What is CVE-2019-16759?
CVE-2019-16759 is a critical vulnerability published on September 24, 2019. vBulletin 5.x through 5.5.4 allows remote command execution via the widgetConfig[code] parameter in an ajax/render/widget_php routestring request.
When was CVE-2019-16759 disclosed?
CVE-2019-16759 was first published in the National Vulnerability Database on September 24, 2019, with the most recent update on November 7, 2025. EchelonGraph re-ingests CVE updates from NVD on a 2-hour cycle, so this page reflects the latest published state.
Is CVE-2019-16759 actively exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2019-16759 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on November 3, 2021, affecting vBulletin vBulletin. KEV listing indicates confirmed exploitation in the wild; this CVE warrants immediate patching attention.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-16759?
CVE-2019-16759 has a CVSS v3 base score of 9.8 (NVD).
Which products are affected by CVE-2019-16759?
CVE-2019-16759 affects vBulletin vBulletin. The full affected-products list, including version ranges and fixed versions, is shown in the Affected Packages section of this page.
How do I remediate CVE-2019-16759?
Patch to the fixed version published by the affected vendor. Where vendor advisories exist for CVE-2019-16759, EchelonGraph cross-links them in the Vendor Advisories panel below — those typically contain the canonical remediation steps, fixed version numbers, and any vendor-specific mitigations.

Dependency Blast Radius

Explore the affected products and dependency analysis for CVE-2019-16759

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