CVE-2021-24436Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Admin-session script execution via unescaped extension parameter

Published Jul 19, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Reflected XSS in BoldGrid W3 Total Cache before 2.1.4 allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript through a crafted admin link. The Extensions dashboard writes the extension query parameter into an HTML attribute without escaping it. Exploitation requires an authenticated administrator to open the link; injected code then runs in that administrator's browser and enables site compromise.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability1.91%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Reflected XSS in BoldGrid W3 Total Cache before 2.1.4 allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript through a crafted admin link. The Extensions dashboard writes the extension query parameter into an HTML attribute without escaping it. Exploitation requires an authenticated administrator to open the link; injected code then runs in that administrator's browser and enables site compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-24436
Published
Jul 19, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Web Ventures
Product
W3 Total Cache
Classifications
CWE-79, T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 19, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=2.1.4 <2.1.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Web Ventures · W3 Total Cacheversion=2.1.4 <2.1.4

Published CVSS scores

6.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1204.001Malicious Link

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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