Security readout for executives and security teams
This vulnerability lets a logged-in WordPress user with contributor-level access or higher upload files the plugin should reject. On affected WordPress Popular Posts versions up to 5.3.2, that can lead to remote code execution. The main business risk is site takeover where contributor accounts exist or are compromised. Exposure is likely on WordPress sites running WordPress Popular Posts 5.3.2 or older, especially multi-author sites, customer portals, agencies, or environments where contributor-level accounts are common. Sites without this plugin or without authenticated lower-privileged users are less exposed. Prioritize remediation for internet-facing WordPress sites with multiple users or any contributor accounts. The vulnerability is high impact because a low-privileged authenticated user could potentially turn site access into server-side code execution. Mitigation focus: Upgrade WordPress Popular Posts beyond 5.3.2 using vendor guidance.; Confirm the deployed plugin includes the Image.php validation fix.; Temporarily restrict contributor-level and higher access until patched..
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-434: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. 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 lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-42362 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
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/improper-input-validation-fixed-in-wordpress-popular-posts-plugin/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.wordfence.com/vulnerability-advisories/#CVE-2021-42362CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2542638/wordpress-popular-posts/trunk/src/Image.phpCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/bd4f157c-a3d7-4535-a587-0102ba4e3009CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/cabrerahector/wordpress-popular-posts/commit/d9b274cf6812eb446e4103cb18f69897ec6fe601CVE reference · patch
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.
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.