# CVE-2020-17496: vBulletin PHP Module Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-17496-vbulletin-php-module-remote-code-execution-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-17496 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

The PHP module in vBulletin allows for remote code execution due to improper neutralization of special elements in subWidgets data. An attacker can trigger this via a specially crafted ajax/render/widget_tabbedcontainer_tab_panel request, bypassing an incomplete patch for CVE-2019-16759.

Technologies: [Vbulletin](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/vbulletin). Vendors: [Vbulletin](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/vbulletin).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-17496 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2020-17496 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2020-17496?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** vBulletin vBulletin 5.5.4 through 5.6.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-17496?** A patch was published on 2020-08-17: NIST analysis notes vendor security patch availability. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2020-17496 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-17496?** Check whether you run Vbulletin. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- vBulletin vBulletin 5.5.4 through 5.6.2

## Timeline

- 2020-08-12: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Date added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild and included in CISA KEV catalog.
- 2020-08-17: patched: NIST analysis notes vendor security patch availability.

## Related threats

- [vBulletin eval injection in vB5_Template_Runtime::runMaths](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-61511-vbulletin-eval-injection-in-vb5-template-runtime-runmaths)
- [vBulletin 6.x cross-site scripting in Login component](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-9357-vbulletin-6-x-cross-site-scripting-in-login-component)
- [vBulletin denial of service via buddy list resource exhaustion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-46171-vbulletin-denial-of-service-via-buddy-list-resource-exhaustion)
- [vBulletin PHP Module Remote Code Execution Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-16759-vbulletin-php-module-remote-code-execution-vulnerability)