CVE-2021-24814Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Administrator takeover via unescaped AJAX response

Published Feb 1, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Reflected XSS in WordPress GDPR & CCPA before 1.9.26 allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript in a victim's browser. The public check_privacy_settings AJAX action returns attacker-controlled HTML in a JSON response without escaping it or declaring the application/json content type. Exploitation requires a victim to submit the crafted request; an administrator's active session permits same-origin AJAX calls and iframe manipulation that can take over the WordPress site.

CVSS severity9.6
Critical
EPSS probability2.08%
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 WordPress GDPR & CCPA before 1.9.26 allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript in a victim's browser. The public check_privacy_settings AJAX action returns attacker-controlled HTML in a JSON response without escaping it or declaring the application/json content type. Exploitation requires a victim to submit the crafted request; an administrator's active session permits same-origin AJAX calls and iframe manipulation that can take over the WordPress site.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-24814
Published
Feb 1, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-79, T1189
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 1, 2022CVE 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.1WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
9.6NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1189Drive-by Compromise

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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