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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38361: .htaccess Redirect <= 0.3.1 Reflected Cross-Site Scripting

The .htaccess Redirect WordPress plugin is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the link parameter found in the ~/htaccess-redirect.php file which allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts, in versions up to and including 0.3.1.

MediumCVSS 6.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A WordPress plugin called .htaccess Redirect can reflect attacker-supplied script into a page through its link parameter. A successful attack would require a victim to open a crafted URL, but could expose browser-session data or modify page content in that user's context.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate website security issue. It is not cited as actively exploited, but public-facing WordPress plugins are frequent targets. Prioritize inventory and removal or verified updating, especially on externally accessible or brand-sensitive sites.

Technical view

CVE-2021-38361 is reflected cross-site scripting in .htaccess Redirect for WordPress, versions up to and including 0.3.1. The issue is tied to the link parameter in htaccess-redirect.php. CVSS 3.1 is 6.1: network reachable, low complexity, no privileges, user interaction required, changed scope, low confidentiality and integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running the .htaccess Redirect plugin version 0.3.1 or older. The bundle does not identify CPEs, hosting patterns, or a confirmed patched version.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false. Practical exploitation would depend on persuading a user to visit a crafted plugin URL, consistent with reflected XSS and the CVSS user-interaction requirement.

Researcher notes

The evidence supports CWE-79 reflected XSS via link in htaccess-redirect.php. Sources do not provide exploit-in-the-wild evidence, a patched version, or detailed remediation notes. Avoid assuming broader .htaccess or WordPress core exposure beyond this plugin.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory WordPress sites for the .htaccess Redirect plugin and installed version.
  • Disable or remove versions 0.3.1 or older if no fixed release is confirmed.
  • Check Wordfence and vendor guidance for a named fixed version.
  • Restrict plugin administrative exposure where operationally possible.
  • Use web application filtering as a compensating control, not a primary fix.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether the plugin is installed on each WordPress site.
  • Verify the installed plugin version is newer than 0.3.1, if a fixed release exists.
  • Review access logs for requests to htaccess-redirect.php using the link parameter.
  • Validate in staging that the link value is safely escaped in responses.
  • Document any sites where the plugin cannot be removed immediately.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
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-2021-38361 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-2021-38361Attack 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
.htaccess Redirect.htaccess Redirect0.3.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-79

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