--- title: "CVE-2026-78159: The Events Calendar WordPress plugin - Remote Code Execution" description: "The Events Calendar WordPress plugin <= 6.17.3 contains a remote code execution caused by insufficient validation of the widget 'classes' map in parse_array, letting unauthenticated attackers execute code remotely, exploit requires comments enabled on tribe_events posts with crafted wp:legacy-widget block comment." url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-78159/ --- # CVE-2026-78159 The Events Calendar WordPress plugin - Remote Code Execution The Events Calendar WordPress plugin <= 6.17.3 contains a remote code execution caused by insufficient validation of the widget 'classes' map in parse\_array, letting unauthenticated attackers execute code remotely, exploit requires comments enabled on tribe\_events posts with crafted wp:legacy-widget block comment. CVSS base score 9.8 /10 Critical CISA KEV Exploited in the wild Public exploit Proof of concept available Authentication Not required EPSS 1.39% chance of exploitation in 30 days [View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-78159) ## Details Type Remote Code Execution Impact Remote Code Execution CVSS vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Published 12 September 2026 Updated 15 October 2026 Weakness [CWE-94](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/94.html) ## Vendor fix Update to a version later than 6.17.3 or the latest available version. Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them. ## References - [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-78159](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-78159) - [https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/the-events-calendar/vulnerability/wordpress-the-events-calendar-plugin-6-17-3-unauthenticated-code-injection-to-remote-code-execution-vulnerability](https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/the-events-calendar/vulnerability/wordpress-the-events-calendar-plugin-6-17-3-unauthenticated-code-injection-to-remote-code-execution-vulnerability) - [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/the-events-calendar/tags/6.17.3/common/src/Tribe/Utils/Element\_Classes.php#L211](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/the-events-calendar/tags/6.17.3/common/src/Tribe/Utils/Element_Classes.php#L211) - [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/the-events-calendar/tags/6.17.3/src/Tribe/Views/V2/Template\_Bootstrap.php#L214](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/the-events-calendar/tags/6.17.3/src/Tribe/Views/V2/Template_Bootstrap.php#L214) - [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/the-events-calendar/tags/6.17.3/src/Tribe/Views/V2/Widgets/Service\_Provider.php#L279](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/the-events-calendar/tags/6.17.3/src/Tribe/Views/V2/Widgets/Service_Provider.php#L279) - [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/the-events-calendar/tags/6.17.3/src/views/v2/components/messages.php#L30](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/the-events-calendar/tags/6.17.3/src/views/v2/components/messages.php#L30) - [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&old=3667866%40the-events-calendar&new=3667866%40the-events-calendar](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&old=3667866%40the-events-calendar&new=3667866%40the-events-calendar) - [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&old=3667867%40the-events-calendar&new=3667867%40the-events-calendar](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&old=3667867%40the-events-calendar&new=3667867%40the-events-calendar) - [https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cc2ccfeb-6df6-4fee-96a5-94f8dd131f7c?source=cve](https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cc2ccfeb-6df6-4fee-96a5-94f8dd131f7c?source=cve) [← All CVEs](https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/) ## What this record can't tell you - Whether you run the affected software, and where - Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it - The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number - What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first Panop answers these inside your environment, for this CVE and every other finding. [Book a demo](https://panop.io/demo)