Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This affects WordPress sites using the CFDB7 add-on for Contact Form 7 at versions 1.2.6.1 or earlier. An unauthenticated attacker could store malicious script content through the plugin, which may execute later when a user views affected data. The impact is limited but relevant for site administration risk.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate website security issue. Prioritize internet-facing WordPress sites that collect public form submissions, especially where administrators regularly review submitted records. It is not listed as known exploited in the provided sources.
Technical view
CVE-2021-36885 is an unauthenticated stored XSS issue in CipherCoin Contact Form 7 Database Addon - CFDB7 for WordPress, versions <= 1.2.6.1. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.1, with network access, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, and low confidentiality and integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress installations running the Contact Form 7 Database Addon - CFDB7 plugin at version 1.2.6.1 or earlier.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Risk depends on whether attackers can submit data that administrators or other users later view inside WordPress or plugin-managed records.
Researcher notes
The evidence supports unauthenticated stored XSS in CFDB7 <= 1.2.6.1, mapped to CWE-79. The bundle does not provide exploit details, a confirmed fixed version, or active exploitation evidence, so validation should focus on version exposure and vendor advisory review.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for CFDB7 plugin installations and versions.
- Update CFDB7 beyond version 1.2.6.1 where vendor guidance supports it.
- Disable or remove the plugin if it cannot be updated promptly.
- Review vendor and WordPress plugin guidance before choosing a permanent fix.
- Restrict administrative access and monitor stored form submissions until remediated.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether CFDB7 is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record the installed plugin version and compare against <= 1.2.6.1.
- Review plugin changelog or vendor advisory for remediation status.
- Inspect stored form submissions for suspicious script-like content.
- Check whether administrative users viewed affected submissions before remediation.
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 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-2021-36885 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
- 6.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N2.82.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-cfdb7/#developersCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/contact-form-cfdb7/wordpress-contact-form-7-database-addon-cfdb7-plugin-1-2-6-1-unauthenticated-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.