CVE-2018-6389

HIGH LAB

WordPress < 4.9.2 - Unauthenticated Denial of Service via Repeated JavaScript File Loading

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 23 public exploits for CVE-2018-6389. PoCs published by Barak Tawily, s0md3v, safebuffer.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This script performs a DoS attack against WordPress by sending a large number of HTTP requests to the vulnerable `load-scripts.php` endpoint, exploiting CVE-2018-6389. It uses multiple threads and random user agents to bypass basic mitigations.

Description

In WordPress through 4.9.2, unauthenticated attackers can cause a denial of service (resource consumption) by using the large list of registered .js files (from wp-includes/script-loader.php) to construct a series of requests to load every file many times.

Exploits (23)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Barak Tawily · pythondosphp
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43968

This script performs a DoS attack against WordPress by sending a large number of HTTP requests to the vulnerable `load-scripts.php` endpoint, exploiting CVE-2018-6389. It uses multiple threads and random user agents to bypass basic mitigations.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress <= 4.9.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target WordPress instance with vulnerable `load-scripts.php` endpoint
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 127 stars
by s0md3v · poc
https://github.com/s0md3v/Shiva

This is a functional DoS exploit for CVE-2018-6389 targeting WordPress sites by abusing load-scripts.php to load excessive jQuery scripts. It uses multithreading and proxy rotation to amplify the attack.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (versions affected by CVE-2018-6389)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target must be a WordPress site · Python environment with 'requests' and 'proxify' libraries
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 81 stars
by safebuffer · poc
https://github.com/safebuffer/CVE-2018-6389

This is a Python-based DoS exploit targeting WordPress versions < 4.9.3 via the load-scripts.php endpoint. It floods the target with HTTP requests using randomized user agents and threading to amplify the attack.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (versions < 4.9.3)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target URL running vulnerable WordPress version
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WRITEUP 13 stars
by ItinerisLtd · poc
https://github.com/ItinerisLtd/trellis-cve-2018-6389

This repository provides mitigation guidance and Ansible roles for CVE-2018-6389, a DoS vulnerability in WordPress affecting load-scripts.php and load-styles.php. It includes Nginx rules and WordPress configuration changes to block or disable concatenation of JS/CSS files.

Classification
Writeup 100%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (versions with concatenation enabled)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to WordPress admin or server configuration · Trellis or similar Ansible-based deployment
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 10 stars
by knqyf263 · poc
https://github.com/knqyf263/CVE-2018-6389

This repository provides a proof-of-concept for CVE-2018-6389, a WordPress DoS vulnerability. It includes instructions to set up a vulnerable WordPress instance and execute a DoS attack using a Python script (doser.py).

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress 4.9.3
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Docker to run the vulnerable WordPress instance · Python to execute the doser.py script
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 6 stars
by omidsec · poc
https://github.com/omidsec/CVE-2018-6389

This PoC exploits CVE-2018-6389, a DoS vulnerability in WordPress due to improper handling of the 'load' parameter in load-scripts.php, allowing resource exhaustion via excessive script loading. The script automates the attack by sending multiple requests with increasing payload sizes to measure server response.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (versions prior to 4.9.4)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to the target WordPress site's /wp-admin/load-scripts.php endpoint
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 3 stars
by ianxtianxt · poc
https://github.com/ianxtianxt/CVE-2018-6389

This repository contains a Python-based DoS tool that floods a target with HTTP GET or POST requests using multiple threads. It is designed to exploit CVE-2018-6389, a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's handling of TCP connections.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux kernel (versions affected by CVE-2018-6389)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target IP/URL · Network connectivity to the target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 3 stars
by Zazzzles · poc
https://github.com/Zazzzles/Wordpress-DOS

This PoC exploits CVE-2018-6389, a DoS vulnerability in WordPress via the `/wp-admin/load-scripts.php` endpoint by sending multiple requests with a large payload of scripts. It uses threading to amplify the attack.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (unpatched versions)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target WordPress site with unpatched `/wp-admin/load-scripts.php` endpoint
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec SCANNER 2 stars
by m3ssap0 · poc
https://github.com/m3ssap0/wordpress_cve-2018-6389

This repository contains a Java-based scanner for CVE-2018-6389, a WordPress DoS vulnerability. It checks for the presence of the vulnerability by sending a single HTTP GET request with a crafted payload but does not perform an actual DoS attack.

Classification
Scanner 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress through 4.9.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target URL pointing to a WordPress installation
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 2 stars
by JavierOlmedo · poc
https://github.com/JavierOlmedo/wordpress-cve-2018-6389

This is a functional DoS exploit targeting WordPress <= 4.9.4 via the 'load-scripts.php' endpoint. It floods the target with HTTP requests using randomized user agents and referrers to exhaust server resources.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress <= 4.9.4
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target WordPress site with vulnerable 'load-scripts.php' endpoint
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 2 stars
by dsfau · poc
https://github.com/dsfau/wordpress-CVE-2018-6389

This is a Metasploit module designed to exploit CVE-2018-6389, a DoS vulnerability in WordPress's load-scripts.php. It sends multiple HTTP requests with a large list of plugins to trigger resource exhaustion.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (versions affected by CVE-2018-6389)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to the WordPress wp-admin/load-scripts.php endpoint
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by vineetkia · poc
https://github.com/vineetkia/Wordpress-DOS-Attack-CVE-2018-6389

This repository contains a Python script and shell script to exploit CVE-2018-6389, a DoS vulnerability in WordPress 4.9.x via the load-scripts.php file. The script sends multiple requests with a large number of JavaScript files to overload the server.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress 4.9.x
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target WordPress site with vulnerable load-scripts.php
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by armaanpathan12345 · poc
https://github.com/armaanpathan12345/WP-DOS-Exploit-CVE-2018-6389

This is a Python-based proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2018-6389, a WordPress DoS vulnerability. It floods the target's load-scripts.php endpoint with multiple concurrent requests to exhaust server resources.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (versions affected by CVE-2018-6389)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target WordPress instance · Network access to the target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by JulienGadanho · poc
https://github.com/JulienGadanho/cve-2018-6389-php-patcher

This repository provides a PHP script to patch WordPress installations against CVE-2018-6389, a DoS vulnerability. The script modifies core WordPress files to mitigate the issue by disabling script concatenation and ensuring proper file inclusion.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (versions affected by CVE-2018-6389)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to WordPress root directory · Write permissions for core WordPress files
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WRITEUP 1 stars
by yolabingo · poc
https://github.com/yolabingo/wordpress-fix-cve-2018-6389

This repository provides an Apache RewriteRule to mitigate a potential DoS attack via WordPress wp-admin/load-scripts.php. It references the initial disclosure by Barak Tawily but does not contain exploit code.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: WordPress (unspecified version)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to Apache configuration · WordPress installation with vulnerable load-scripts.php
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by amit-pathak009 · poc
https://github.com/amit-pathak009/CVE-2018-6389-FIX

This script is a patch for CVE-2018-6389, a WordPress vulnerability. It locates WordPress installations on a server and applies security patches to mitigate the vulnerability by modifying key files.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress
Auth required
Prerequisites: Access to the server · WordPress installations present
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by alessiogilardi · poc
https://github.com/alessiogilardi/PoC---CVE-2018-6389

This repository contains a Python-based DoS tool targeting CVE-2018-6389 in WordPress 4.9.2. The script sends multiple HTTP GET requests to exploit a vulnerability in the load-scripts.php endpoint, causing resource exhaustion.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress 4.9.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target URL with vulnerable WordPress installation
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by fakedob · poc
https://github.com/fakedob/tvsz

This repository contains a Node.js-based PoC for CVE-2018-6389, a WordPress DoS vulnerability. The script exploits the load-scripts.php endpoint to perform resource exhaustion attacks by requesting multiple uncached JavaScript files, leading to high server load.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (unspecified version)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: NodeJS 8.11.2 · Access to vulnerable WordPress instance · Proxy list for anonymization
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec STUB
by mudhappy · poc
https://github.com/mudhappy/Wordpress-Hack-CVE-2018-6389

The repository contains standard WordPress files without any exploit code or proof-of-concept for CVE-2018-6389. No offensive techniques or vulnerability demonstrations are present.

Classification
Stub 90%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: WordPress
No auth needed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WRITEUP
by BlackRouter · poc
https://github.com/BlackRouter/cve-2018-6389

The repository contains only a README.md file with social media links and no exploit code or technical details. It references CVE-2018-6389 but provides no functional PoC.

Classification
Writeup 30%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: unknown
No auth needed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by thechrono13 · poc
https://github.com/thechrono13/PoC---CVE-2018-6389

This repository contains a Python-based DoS tool designed to exploit CVE-2018-6389 in WordPress 4.9.2 by sending a high volume of HTTP GET requests to the vulnerable endpoint. The script uses multiple threads and randomized headers to bypass basic mitigations.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress 4.9.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target URL with vulnerable WordPress instance · Network connectivity to the target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by Jetserver · poc
https://github.com/Jetserver/CVE-2018-6389-FIX

This script is a patch for CVE-2018-6389, a WordPress vulnerability. It locates WordPress installations on a server and applies mitigations by modifying core files to prevent exploitation.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WordPress (versions affected by CVE-2018-6389)
Auth required
Prerequisites: server access · WordPress installations present
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WRITEUP
by rastating · poc
https://github.com/rastating/modsecurity-cve-2018-6389

This repository provides a ModSecurity ruleset for detecting attacks exploiting CVE-2018-6389, a vulnerability in WordPress. It does not contain exploit code but offers defensive rules.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: WordPress (CVE-2018-6389)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: ModSecurity installed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (8)

Core 8
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103060
Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9021
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43968/
Exploit, Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://baraktawily.blogspot.fr/2018/02/how-to-dos-29-of-world-wide-websites.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040347
Exploit, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://thehackernews.com/2018/02/wordpress-dos-exploit.html
Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://github.com/WazeHell/CVE-2018-6389
Exploit, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://github.com/UltimateHackers/Shiva

Scores

CVSS v3 7.5
EPSS 0.7310
EPSS Percentile 99.4%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-400
Status published
Products (1)
wordpress/wordpress < 4.9.2
Published Feb 06, 2018
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026