Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a low-severity stored XSS issue in the Social Media Feather WordPress plugin through version 2.0.4. An attacker already needing administrator-level access could store script content that runs when a user interacts with affected content. Business impact is limited but still relevant for WordPress sites with many administrators or weak admin governance.
Executive priority
Treat this as routine WordPress hygiene, not an emergency. Prioritize if the plugin exists on production sites, especially where multiple administrators, agencies, or shared credentials are involved.
Technical view
CVE-2021-36848 is an authenticated admin+ stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in Social Media Feather <= 2.0.4. The CVSS 3.1 score is 3.4, with network access, low attack complexity, high privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, and low integrity impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress deployments using the Social Media Feather plugin at version 2.0.4 or earlier. Practical risk depends on who has administrator access and whether plugin configuration or content can be reviewed for unauthorized changes.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public evidence of active exploitation. The required admin-level privileges substantially reduce likelihood, but compromise of an administrator account could make this vulnerability useful for persistence or content tampering.
Researcher notes
Evidence identifies CWE-79 stored XSS with admin+ authentication and user interaction required. The bundle does not provide exploit details, a confirmed patched version, or active exploitation evidence, so remediation should be tied to vendor and Patchstack guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Identify all WordPress sites using Social Media Feather.
- Check installed plugin versions against the affected range <= 2.0.4.
- Review vendor and Patchstack guidance for a fixed version or official workaround.
- Update the plugin if a vendor-supported fixed release is available.
- Disable or remove the plugin where it is unnecessary or unsupported.
- Restrict and audit WordPress administrator accounts.
Validation and detection
- Confirm plugin presence and version across WordPress assets.
- Verify administrator account inventory and recent admin activity.
- Review plugin-managed settings or content for unexpected script-like changes.
- Check whether vendor guidance names a fixed release beyond 2.0.4.
- Document compensating controls if the plugin cannot be updated 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-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-2021-36848 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
- Low
- CVSS
- 3.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:N/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:N/I:L/A:N1.71.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
3.4LowVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/social-media-feather/#developersCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/social-media-feather/wordpress-social-media-feather-plugin-2-0-4-authenticated-stored-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerabilityCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
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.