CVE-2021-24312Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated command execution via configuration injection

Published Jun 1, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Code injection in Automattic WP Super Cache before 1.7.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute commands through plugin settings. The settings handlers write newline- and dollar-containing values from five parameters into wp-cache-config.php, turning injected PHP into executable configuration. The attacker needs high-privilege WordPress settings access; successful injection permits arbitrary command execution in the web server context.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.95%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in Automattic WP Super Cache before 1.7.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute commands through plugin settings. The settings handlers write newline- and dollar-containing values from five parameters into wp-cache-config.php, turning injected PHP into executable configuration. The attacker needs high-privilege WordPress settings access; successful injection permits arbitrary command execution in the web server context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-24312
Published
Jun 1, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Automattic
Product
WP Super Cache
Classifications
CWE-78, CWE-94, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 1, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.7.3 <1.7.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Automattic · WP Super Cacheversion=1.7.3 <1.7.3

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

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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