CVE-2021-24452Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Administrator-browser script execution via unescaped extension parameter

Published Jul 19, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Reflected XSS in BoldGrid W3 Total Cache before 2.1.5 allows remote attackers to run script in an administrator's browser. The Extensions dashboard writes the extension query parameter into a JavaScript context without proper escaping when anonymous usage tracking is enabled. Exploitation requires an authenticated administrator to follow a crafted link, allowing the script to act with that administrator's site privileges.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability1.92%
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 2.1.5 allows remote attackers to run script in an administrator's browser. The Extensions dashboard writes the extension query parameter into a JavaScript context without proper escaping when anonymous usage tracking is enabled. Exploitation requires an authenticated administrator to follow a crafted link, allowing the script to act with that administrator's site privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-24452
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

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=2.1.5 <2.1.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Web Ventures · W3 Total Cacheversion=2.1.5 <2.1.5

Published CVSS scores

6.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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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