CVE-2021-24453Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated code execution via shortcode path traversal

Published Jul 19, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path traversal in Stefano Lissa Include Me 1.2.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute PHP code through crafted shortcode paths. The includeme shortcode resolves its file attribute without restricting it to an allowed directory, enabling a post author to read server files and include a poisoned web log. An account able to create posts is required; successful log poisoning executes commands as the web-server process and can compromise the host.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability4.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Stefano Lissa Include Me 1.2.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute PHP code through crafted shortcode paths. The includeme shortcode resolves its file attribute without restricting it to an allowed directory, enabling a post author to read server files and include a poisoned web log. An account able to create posts is required; successful log poisoning executes commands as the web-server process and can compromise the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-24453
Published
Jul 19, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Stefano Lissa
Product
Include Me
Classifications
CWE-22, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

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=1.2.1 <=1.2.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Stefano Lissa · Include Meversion=1.2.1 <=1.2.1

Published CVSS scores

9.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
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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