WordPress 5.4.2 Security and Maintenance Release

This security and maintenance release features 23 fixes and enhancements. Plus, it adds a number of security fixes—see the list below.

These bugs affect WordPress versions 5.4.1 and earlier; version 5.4.2 fixes them, so you’ll want to upgrade.

Security Updates

WordPress versions 5.4 and earlier are affected by the following bugs, which are fixed in version 5.4.2. If you haven’t yet updated to 5.4, there are also updated versions of 5.3 and earlier that fix the security issues.

• Props to Sam Thomas (jazzy2fives) for finding an XSS issue where authenticated users with low privileges are able to add JavaScript to posts in the block editor.
• Props to Luigi – (gubello.me) for discovering an XSS issue where authenticated users with upload permissions are able to add JavaScript to media files.
• Props to Ben Bidner of the WordPress Security Team for finding an open redirect issue in wp_validate_redirect().
• Props to Nrimo Ing Pandum for finding an authenticated XSS issue via theme uploads.
• Props to Simon Scannell of RIPS Technologies for finding an issue where set-screen-option can be misused by plugins leading to privilege escalation.
• Props to Carolina Nymark for discovering an issue where comments from password-protected posts and pages could be displayed under certain conditions.