Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This CVE affects a WordPress GDPR/cookie plugin. A malicious site could trick a logged-in WordPress user into submitting unwanted plugin setting values, causing stored or reflected script execution in the site context. The reported impact is medium, but it matters where WordPress admin sessions are common or the affected plugin is publicly deployed.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate WordPress hygiene issue. Prioritize internet-facing business sites and any WordPress environment with many privileged users. This is not presented as actively exploited in the source bundle, but it can affect site integrity and user trust if left unaddressed.
Technical view
CVE-2021-36887 is a CSRF issue leading to XSS in tarteaucitron.js – Cookies legislation & GDPR for WordPress versions <= 1.5.4. The source names vulnerable parameters tarteaucitronEmail and tarteaucitronPass. CVSS 3.1 is 6.1, network reachable, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running the tarteaucitronjs plugin at version 1.5.4 or earlier. Risk depends on whether authenticated administrators or editors can be induced to visit attacker-controlled content while logged in. The bundle does not identify affected non-WordPress products.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The vulnerability requires user interaction, consistent with CSRF. No exploit code, campaign details, or weaponized activity are cited in the provided sources.
Researcher notes
Evidence is concise but clear on affected component, version ceiling, vulnerability classes, and named parameters. The bundle does not provide patch version, proof-of-concept detail, exploit telemetry, or vendor remediation text, so remediation should be confirmed against vendor and Patchstack records.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the tarteaucitronjs plugin and version.
- Check official WordPress and Patchstack guidance for a fixed release.
- Upgrade to a vendor-supported fixed version if available.
- Disable or remove the plugin if no safe version can be confirmed.
- Review admin session and anti-CSRF hardening for WordPress operations.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether any site runs tarteaucitronjs version 1.5.4 or earlier.
- Review plugin changelog or vendor advisory for the fixed version.
- Check logs for suspicious changes involving tarteaucitronEmail or tarteaucitronPass.
- Verify the plugin is removed, disabled, or updated across all environments.
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-2021-36887 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:N/I:L/A:L
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:N/I:L/A:L2.82.7Primary 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:N/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/tarteaucitronjs/#developersCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/tarteaucitronjs/wordpress-tarteaucitron-js-cookies-legislation-gdpr-plugin-1-5-4-cross-site-request-forgery-csrf-vulnerability-leading-to-cross-site-scripting-xssCVE 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.