# CVE-2011-4898: Information disclosure in n/a

> Remote attackers can brute-force MySQL credentials during WordPress installation due to distinct error messages revealing credential validity.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 30 Jan 2012
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2011-4898, GHSA-q2qm-9w2w-5x96

## What is CVE-2011-4898?

CVE-2011-4898 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Wordpress Wordpress, published on 30 Jan 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

wp-admin/setup-config.php in the installation component in WordPress 3.3.1 and earlier generates different error messages for requests lacking a dbname parameter depending on whether the MySQL credentials are valid, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct brute-force attacks via a series of requests with different uname and pwd parameters.  NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this issue; also, it is unclear whether providing intentionally vague error messages during installation would be reasonable from a usability perspective

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-4898?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wordpress Wordpress.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-4898?

No fix has been published for CVE-2011-4898 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2011-4898 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-4898 exists.

Public exploit code:

- WordPress Core 3.3.1 - Multiple Vulnerabilities (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Wordpress Wordpress

- [CVE-2026-63030](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63030/): WordPress Core Interpretation Conflict (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-87902](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-87902/): WordPress Core Remote File Inclusion (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-60137](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-60137/): WordPress Core SQL Injection (medium 5.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-2399](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2399/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2012-2400](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2400/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-4898 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-4898 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Wordpress Wordpress, published on 30 Jan 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-4898 exists.

Affected product: Wordpress Wordpress. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4898/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4898/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-4898
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4898
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-4898

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4898/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.