Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-25117 affects the WP-PostRatings WordPress plugin before 1.86.1. An administrator-level user can save unsafe content in a plugin option, creating stored cross-site scripting. Business impact is limited by the need for admin access, but it can still matter on multi-admin or restricted-admin WordPress sites.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate-priority cleanup item. It is not an unauthenticated takeover issue, but it can create persistent browser-side risk if an admin account is compromised or delegated admin access is misused.
Technical view
The plugin fails to sanitize the postratings_image parameter on its admin options page. The issue is admin-accessible and CSRF-protected, but remains exploitable where the unfiltered_html capability is disabled. CVSS 3.1 is 4.8 with high privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, and low confidentiality and integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running WP-PostRatings before 1.86.1, especially installations with multiple administrators or restricted admin roles without unfiltered_html capability.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. WPScan is cited as a technical vulnerability entry and tagged as exploit, but no source here proves exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
The key condition is stored XSS through postratings_image on the plugin options page. The vulnerability is constrained by administrator access and CSRF protection, but the source explicitly notes exploitability when unfiltered_html is disabled. Evidence is insufficient to claim active exploitation.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade WP-PostRatings to 1.86.1 or later.
- Review vendor guidance for any additional remediation notes.
- Restrict access to WordPress administrator accounts.
- Remove unused administrator accounts and enforce MFA.
- Audit plugin settings for unexpected stored content.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress sites using WP-PostRatings.
- Confirm installed plugin versions are 1.86.1 or later.
- Check whether any administrators lack unfiltered_html capability.
- Review plugin option values for unexpected script-like content.
- Review admin activity logs for recent plugin setting changes.
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-352: 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 lookupCWE-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-2021-25117 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
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 vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N1.72.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.8MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/d2d9a789-edae-4ae1-92af-e6132db7efcd/CVE reference · exploit, vdb-entry
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.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
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.