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CVE-2021-44223

Status: ModifiedCritical (9.8)—

WordPress before 5.8 lacks support for the Update URI plugin header. This makes it easier for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a supply-chain attack against WordPress installations that use any plugin for which the slug satisfies the naming constraints of the WordPress.org Plugin Directory but is not yet present in that directory.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (1)

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2021-44223",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 7.5,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "accessComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 6.4,
        "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 10,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": false
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "cve@mitre.org",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 8.1,
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
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        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 2.2
      },
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
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  "affected": [
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  "published": "2021-11-25T15:15:09.800",
  "references": [
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      "url": "https://make.wordpress.org/core/2021/06/29/introducing-update-uri-plugin-header-in-wordpress-5-8/",
      "tags": [
        "Release Notes",
        "Vendor Advisory"
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      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
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    {
      "url": "https://vavkamil.cz/2021/11/25/wordpress-plugin-confusion-update-can-get-you-pwned/",
      "tags": [
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      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
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      "url": "https://make.wordpress.org/core/2021/06/29/introducing-update-uri-plugin-header-in-wordpress-5-8/",
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      "tags": [
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      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
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  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "NVD-CWE-Other"
        }
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  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "WordPress before 5.8 lacks support for the Update URI plugin header. This makes it easier for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a supply-chain attack against WordPress installations that use any plugin for which the slug satisfies the naming constraints of the WordPress.org Plugin Directory but is not yet present in that directory."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "WordPress versiones anteriores a 5.8, carece de soporte para el encabezado del plugin Update URI. Esto facilita a atacantes remotos una ejecución de código arbitrario por medio de un ataque a la cadena de suministro contra instalaciones de WordPress que usen cualquier plugin cuyo slug satisfaga las restricciones de nomenclatura del directorio de plugins de WordPress.org pero que aún no esté presente en dicho directorio"
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T04:12:04.767",
  "configurations": [
    {
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              "versionEndExcluding": "5.8"
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          "operator": "OR"
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  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org"
}