Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Timeline Calendar for WordPress through version 1.2 allowed administrator-level users to place untrusted input into a database query. If an attacker already controls an admin account, this could expose or alter site database content. The source bundle does not provide CVSS scoring, active exploitation evidence, or a named fixed version.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted-risk issue rather than an emergency internet-wide exposure. Prioritize sites using this plugin, especially public business sites with many administrators or weak admin controls. If no patched version is confirmed, removal is the safer operational path.
Technical view
CVE-2021-24553 is a CWE-89 SQL injection in the Timeline Calendar WordPress plugin. The edit GET parameter is not sanitized, validated, or escaped before use in SQL while editing events. Sources also state other SQL injections are present, but do not detail every path or remediation release.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running Timeline Calendar version 1.2 or earlier, with reachable administrator event-editing functionality. The described attack requires authenticated admin-level access, so risk rises if admin accounts are shared, weakly protected, or compromised.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle, and the provided sources do not establish active exploitation. The authenticated admin+ prerequisite reduces broad opportunistic exposure, but successful misuse could still affect database confidentiality and integrity.
Researcher notes
Evidence identifies one vulnerable edit GET parameter and mentions additional SQL injections without full detail. No CVSS, CPE, exploit status, or fixed version is present in the supplied bundle. Avoid assuming unauthenticated reachability or vendor remediation beyond the cited sources.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Timeline Calendar version 1.2 or earlier.
- Check vendor, WPScan, or CodeVigilant guidance for a fixed release or removal advice.
- Disable or remove the plugin if no maintained patched version is available.
- Harden WordPress administrator accounts with MFA and least-privilege access.
- Review recent database backups and monitoring for unusual changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Timeline Calendar is installed and identify its version.
- Review WordPress admin users for unexpected or overprivileged accounts.
- Check web and application logs for unusual event-editing requests.
- Review database audit trails for unexpected Timeline Calendar data changes.
- Verify remediation by confirming the vulnerable plugin is patched, disabled, or removed.
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-89: Database access and collection lookup
Injection into data stores can inform collection, data access, and exfiltration detection reviews. 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 lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-24553 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/14c75a00-a52b-430b-92da-5145e5aee30aCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://codevigilant.com/disclosure/2021/wp-plugin-timeline-calendar/CVE 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 Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.