Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a WordPress plugin issue where low-privileged content contributors could store script in PDF embed shortcode content. If viewed by others, that script could run in their browser, potentially exposing sessions or altering page behavior.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted web integrity risk for affected WordPress sites, not as a broad critical emergency. Prioritize updates on multi-author sites and public-facing sites with untrusted contributors.
Technical view
Wonder PDF Embed before 1.7 did not escape parameters of the wonderplugin_pdf shortcode. A Contributor-level user or higher could create stored cross-site scripting content that executes when the shortcode renders. The source bundle provides no CVSS score.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running Wonder PDF Embed before 1.7, especially sites allowing Contributor-level users to create shortcode-based content.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability requires authenticated content creation privileges, reducing internet-wide exposure but still mattering for multi-user WordPress sites.
Researcher notes
The available record identifies CWE-79 stored XSS and Contributor+ reachability through unescaped shortcode parameters. Evidence is sparse: no CVSS, no exploit status, and no detailed vendor advisory is included in the bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Wonder PDF Embed to version 1.7 or later where available.
- Restrict Contributor and Author publishing until affected sites are updated.
- Review content using the wonderplugin_pdf shortcode for suspicious parameters.
- Check vendor or WPScan guidance if upgrade status is unclear.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Wonder PDF Embed plugin version.
- Confirm whether installed versions are older than 1.7.
- Identify users with Contributor or higher content creation roles.
- Review posts and pages containing wonderplugin_pdf shortcodes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-24541 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/e6602369-87f4-4454-8298-89cc69f8375cCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.