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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38316: WP Academic People List <= 0.4.1 Reflected Cross-Site Scripting

The WP Academic People List WordPress plugin is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the category_name parameter in the ~/admin-panel.php file which allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts, in versions up to and including 0.4.1.

MediumCVSS 6.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a reflected cross-site scripting issue in the WP Academic People List WordPress plugin through version 0.4.1. An attacker could cause script to run in a user's browser if that user interacts with a crafted request. Business risk is moderate and mainly affects user trust, session integrity, and administrative workflows.

Executive priority

Handle during normal vulnerability remediation unless the plugin is on a high-value or administrator-heavy WordPress site. Prioritize removal or verified upgrade because no patch details are provided in the source bundle.

Technical view

The source bundle identifies CWE-79 reflected XSS via the category_name parameter in ~/admin-panel.php. CVSS 3.1 is 6.1, network exploitable, low complexity, no privileges required, with required user interaction and changed scope. No source in the bundle names a patch.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running WP Academic People List up to and including version 0.4.1. Risk depends on whether the plugin is installed, active, and the affected path and parameter are reachable in the deployed site.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked KEV. The CVSS vector requires user interaction, so practical exploitation likely depends on persuading a user to open a maliciously crafted link or request.

Researcher notes

Evidence is specific to category_name in admin-panel.php for plugin version 0.4.1 and earlier. The bundle provides severity, vector, CWE, and references, but not patch commit, exploit telemetry, or confirmed fixed version.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory WordPress sites for WP Academic People List installations.
  • Remove or disable the plugin if it is unused.
  • Check vendor and WordPress plugin guidance for a fixed version.
  • Upgrade only to a vendor-supported fixed release if available.
  • Reduce exposure to affected administrative paths where operationally feasible.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether WP Academic People List is installed and active.
  • Record the installed plugin version on each WordPress site.
  • Treat versions up to and including 0.4.1 as affected.
  • Review Wordfence and CVE records for updated remediation guidance.
  • Verify scanner findings against plugin presence and version.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · medium confidence lookup

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.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-38316 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.1CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N2.82.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

6.1Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-38316Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
WP Academic People ListWP Academic People List0.4.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-79

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.