CVE-2021-24808Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Script execution via unescaped subject attribute

Published Nov 1, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Reflected XSS in WordPlus Better Messages before 1.9.9.41 allows remote attackers to execute script via a crafted subject parameter. In views/layout-new.php, sanitize_text_field processes subject, but the template inserts the result into an HTML attribute without attribute escaping. Execution requires a victim to open the crafted chat-room URL, after which the script runs in that victim's browser context and can read or alter page data.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.94%
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 WordPlus Better Messages before 1.9.9.41 allows remote attackers to execute script via a crafted subject parameter. In views/layout-new.php, sanitize_text_field processes subject, but the template inserts the result into an HTML attribute without attribute escaping. Execution requires a victim to open the crafted chat-room URL, after which the script runs in that victim's browser context and can read or alter page data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-24808
Published
Nov 1, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
WordPlus
Product
Better Messages
Classifications
CWE-79, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 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

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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=1.9.9.41 <1.9.9.41

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

WordPlus · Better Messagesversion=1.9.9.41 <1.9.9.41

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
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')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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