Authenticated site deletion via AJAX nonce
Published Nov 1, 2021 · Updated Mar 31, 2025
Improper access control in HashThemes Demo Importer 1.1.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to delete site data via AJAX. The hdi_install_demo AJAX action accepts a reset parameter and invokes database_reset without capability checks because its nonce is visible to all logged-in users; the routine truncates nearly all database tables and then clear_uploads removes wp-content/uploads files. Any logged-in account, including a subscriber, can trigger permanent content loss, causing site integrity and availability impact without requiring user interaction.
Summary
What happened
Improper access control in HashThemes Demo Importer 1.1.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to delete site data via AJAX. The hdi_install_demo AJAX action accepts a reset parameter and invokes database_reset without capability checks because its nonce is visible to all logged-in users; the routine truncates nearly all database tables and then clear_uploads removes wp-content/uploads files. Any logged-in account, including a subscriber, can trigger permanent content loss, causing site integrity and availability impact without requiring user interaction.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-39333
- Published
- Nov 1, 2021
- Updated
- Mar 31, 2025
- Vendor
- HashThemes
- Product
- HashThemes Demo Importer
- Classifications
- CWE-284, T1485
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 1, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 31, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=1.1.1 <=1.1.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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