CVE-2021-20865Network attack vector

Authenticated database disclosure via unrestricted field retrieval

Published Dec 13, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Missing authorization in Advanced Custom Fields and Pro before 5.11 allows remote authenticated users to read unauthorized database values. The ACF shortcode and get_field() and the_field() functions accept names for WordPress options or post, user, or term metadata and return values even when the names are not registered ACF fields. Subscriber, Contributor, or Author access is sufficient, and the bounded impact is disclosure of database information that the account lacks permission to view.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability2.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Advanced Custom Fields and Pro before 5.11 allows remote authenticated users to read unauthorized database values. The ACF shortcode and get_field() and the_field() functions accept names for WordPress options or post, user, or term metadata and return values even when the names are not registered ACF fields. Subscriber, Contributor, or Author access is sufficient, and the bounded impact is disclosure of database information that the account lacks permission to view.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20865
Published
Dec 13, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-862, T1213
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 13, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.0JPCERT/CC and IPAAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N
4.3JPCERT/CC and IPACVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1213Data from Information Repositories

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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