Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This affects WordPress sites running Better Search up to version 2.5.2. An attacker could trick an administrator into taking an action that silently imports attacker-controlled plugin settings. The issue requires administrator interaction, but the CVSS score reflects potentially severe impact to site confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for any WordPress estate using Better Search. The vulnerability is not reported as actively exploited here, but it targets administrator trust and could materially affect site behavior if triggered.
Technical view
CVE-2021-4373 is a CSRF flaw in Better Search <= 2.5.2 affecting settings import. The source states unauthenticated attackers can forge a request if they induce an administrator action. Public sources identify a related WordPress plugin changeset and Nintechnet write-up on fixed CSRF vulnerabilities.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress installations with the Better Search plugin installed at version 2.5.2 or earlier. Sites without this plugin, or on later unaffected releases, are not indicated as affected by the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not indicate CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation requires user interaction by a site administrator, such as clicking a crafted link, and depends on a vulnerable plugin version being present.
Researcher notes
The provided record names CSRF to settings import and CWE-288, with CVSS 3.1 score 8.8. Evidence does not include exploit telemetry, detailed patch notes, or proof-of-concept behavior. Avoid expanding impact beyond settings import without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Better Search to a release newer than 2.5.2 per vendor guidance.
- If immediate upgrade is not possible, disable the plugin until addressed.
- Review Better Search settings for unexpected imports or changes.
- Warn WordPress administrators about unsolicited links while remediation is pending.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Better Search plugin.
- Confirm installed Better Search versions are not 2.5.2 or earlier.
- Review plugin settings for unauthorized configuration changes.
- Check vendor changelog and WordPress Trac reference for remediation status.
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-288: 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 lookupCVE-2021-4373 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:N/UI:R/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:N/UI:R/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:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cfc6c595-dad2-4abc-8187-ed72355273b8?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2473344CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-1/CVE reference
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.
Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.