Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A lower-privileged WordPress user could abuse flawed authorization in the Redux Framework template REST API. The issue could let contributor-level users install plugins from the WordPress repository and alter arbitrary posts, creating business risk through unauthorized site changes or malicious plugin introduction.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for WordPress estates because compromise requires only a low-privileged account, not administrator access, and can affect site integrity.
Technical view
CVE-2021-38312 affects Gutenberg Template Library & Redux Framework <= 4.2.11. REST endpoints under redux/v1/templates/ used a permissions_callback that checked only edit_posts, a capability available to contributors. This incorrect authorization allowed arbitrary plugin installation and arbitrary post editing.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running the affected Redux.io Gutenberg Template Library & Redux Framework plugin version 4.2.11 or earlier, especially where lower-privileged accounts such as contributors exist.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not cite CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The issue is network-reachable through WordPress REST API behavior but requires an authenticated lower-privileged user account.
Researcher notes
The key control failure is capability mismatch: edit_posts was insufficient for endpoints capable of plugin installation and arbitrary post modification. Evidence provided does not name a fixed version or describe in-the-wild exploitation.
Mitigation direction
- Update the affected plugin using vendor or WordPress guidance.
- Remove the plugin if it is not business-required.
- Restrict contributor and author accounts until remediation is confirmed.
- Review recent plugin installations and post edits by non-admin users.
- Check vendor guidance for the fixed version and any cleanup steps.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress sites for the affected plugin and version.
- Confirm no site runs version 4.2.11 or earlier.
- Review roles with edit_posts on affected sites.
- Check audit logs for plugin installs by non-admin users.
- Check audit logs for unexpected post edits or deletions.
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-280: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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-863: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. 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-2021-38312 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L2.84.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2021/09/over-1-million-sites-affected-by-redux-framework-vulnerabilities/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 Handling of Insufficient Permissions or Privileges
Improper Handling of Insufficient Permissions or Privileges represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Incorrect Authorization
Incorrect Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.