Unauthenticated metadata modification via unchecked AJAX action
Published Jun 7, 2023 · Updated Apr 8, 2026
Missing authorization in N-Media Frontend File Manager Plugin 18.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to alter WordPress post metadata. The wpfm_file_meta_update AJAX handler passes every remaining request key and value to update_post_meta without a nonce, capability check, or validation. No login is required; chosen wpfm_dir_path metadata can redirect a plugin download to wp-config.php and disclose database credentials.
Summary
What happened
Missing authorization in N-Media Frontend File Manager Plugin 18.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to alter WordPress post metadata. The wpfm_file_meta_update AJAX handler passes every remaining request key and value to update_post_meta without a nonce, capability check, or validation. No login is required; chosen wpfm_dir_path metadata can redirect a plugin download to wp-config.php and disclose database credentials.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-4351
- Published
- Jun 7, 2023
- Updated
- Apr 8, 2026
- Vendor
- N-Media
- Product
- Frontend File Manager Plugin
- Classifications
- CWE-862, T1565.001
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 7, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 8, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <18.3
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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
- NinTechNet post-metadata modification demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo