Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Textpattern CMS 4.8.7 and older did not mark the txp_login cookie as Secure. If an authenticated user visits an HTTP URL within the cookie scope, the browser may send the session cookie without HTTPS protection. Sources do not show active exploitation or a CVSS score.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for externally accessible Textpattern sites and administrator portals. This is not evidenced as actively exploited, but session exposure can lead to account takeover if environmental conditions allow clear-text cookie transmission.
Technical view
The issue is in textpattern/lib/txplib_misc.php: txp_login lacked the Secure cookie attribute. Browsers can include such cookies on plain HTTP requests when domain and path scope match. The public record names Textpattern CMS v4.8.7 and older; affected CPE, CWE, and CVSS details are not provided.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to organizations running Textpattern CMS v4.8.7 or older, especially admin sessions reachable over mixed HTTP/HTTPS paths or misconfigured redirects. Sites enforcing HTTPS everywhere reduce practical risk.
Exploitation context
The described attack requires an authenticated user's browser to send the cookie over HTTP, potentially after being induced to visit a suitable link. KEV is false, and the supplied sources do not document active exploitation.
Researcher notes
Evidence is narrow but clear: the vulnerability concerns a missing Secure attribute on txp_login. The source bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, exploit telemetry, and precise fixed release metadata beyond the linked upstream commit.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Textpattern to a release containing the referenced Secure-cookie fix or later.
- Review vendor guidance for the exact fixed version and supported upgrade path.
- Enforce HTTPS-only access with redirects and HSTS where appropriate.
- Invalidate existing administrative sessions after applying the fix.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Textpattern instances and confirm versions are newer than 4.8.7.
- Inspect txp_login cookie attributes in a browser session for Secure=true.
- Confirm HTTP requests redirect to HTTPS before application cookies are sent.
- Review web server logs for unexpected HTTP access to authenticated paths.
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.
CVE-2021-40642 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
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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 and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/textpattern/textpattern/commit/211fab0093999f59b0b61682aa988ac7d8337aa9CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.huntr.dev/bounties/aadbe434-a376-443b-876f-2a1cbab7847b/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.