# CVE-2020-37255: WordPress Time Capsule Plugin 1.21.16 Authentication Bypass

> Unauthenticated attackers can gain administrative access to WordPress sites using the Time Capsule plugin by sending a crafted POST request.

- **Severity:** High 8.7 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Jun 2026
- **Updated:** 15 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4jwp-2g8r-6m99

## What is CVE-2020-37255?

CVE-2020-37255 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Wptimecapsule Time Capsule Plugin, published on 20 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

WordPress Time Capsule Plugin 1.21.16 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to gain administrative access by sending a crafted POST request with the IWP_JSON_PREFIX header. Attackers can exploit this flaw to obtain valid administrator session cookies and access the WordPress dashboard without providing credentials.

Weakness: CWE-288 (Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-37255?


## How do I fix CVE-2020-37255?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-37255 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-37255 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-37255 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-37255 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-37255 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Wptimecapsule Time Capsule Plugin, published on 20 Jun 2026. 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-2020-37255 exists.

Affected product: Wptimecapsule Time Capsule Plugin. 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-2020-37255/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-37255/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-37255
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-37255
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-37255

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-37255/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.