No. CVE-2020-17496
A vBulletin bug is being used in attacks
Being used now
Yes. Attackers are using this right now.
What to do
Apply the vendor's update. If there is none, stop using it or cut it off from the internet.
- Confirmed in attacks
- Nov 3, 2021
- Product
- vBulletin
- Attack likelihood, next 30 days
- 87%
Attack likelihood is EPSS, a daily estimate from FIRST.org of how likely this bug is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days.
The official description
The PHP module within vBulletin contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for remote code execution via crafted subWidgets data in an ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_panel request. This CVE ID resolves an incomplete patch for CVE-2019-16759.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
For your tech helper
A read-only checklist for whoever helps you with your computer, or an AI assistant. Paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or a coding agent; it only looks and changes nothing.
Read-only check, change nothing, send nothing anywhere.
Is vBulletin vBulletin (CVE-2020-17496) installed or running on this machine or in this project?
1. Find every copy and its version (apps, packages, containers, lockfiles).
2. Compare each version against the vendor's fixed version for CVE-2020-17496. Quote the vendor page you used.
3. Report a table: where, version, fixed version, status (exposed / fixed / not installed / unsure).
4. List the exact update steps, but do not run them.