Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This affects the Recently WordPress plugin up to version 3.0.4. An attacker with a site account could upload files the server should not accept. If the server executes one of those files, the issue may become remote code execution.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for WordPress estates using Recently. It requires authentication, but public user registration or compromised accounts can make that barrier weak, and successful abuse may lead to full site compromise.
Technical view
CVE-2021-4382 is CWE-434 in Recently for WordPress. Missing file type validation in fetch_external_image() allows authenticated arbitrary file upload on affected sites, with CVSS 8.8 and possible code execution depending on server handling.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running Recently up to and including 3.0.4. Risk is higher where untrusted users can authenticate, such as public registration sites. The source bundle does not specify exact WordPress roles required.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates network access, low privileges, low complexity, and no user interaction. CISA KEV is false, and the provided sources do not establish active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
The bundle identifies fetch_external_image() and missing file type validation, but does not provide role-level detail, fixed version text, or exploitation evidence. Validate against the linked CVE, Wordfence, WPScan, Acunetix, and WordPress changeset references.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Recently plugin and record installed versions.
- Update Recently according to WordPress plugin or vendor guidance.
- Disable or remove the plugin if no safe update is available.
- Restrict untrusted account creation and review existing low-privilege users.
- Monitor webroot uploads for unexpected executable files.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Recently is installed and version is 3.0.4 or older.
- Review WordPress user registration and authenticated user exposure.
- Check web server upload directories for unexpected script-like files.
- Review logs for unusual authenticated upload activity.
- Verify remediation against vendor or WordPress plugin guidance.
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-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-2021-4382 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://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f8297149-2de3-4e49-80f9-6ea59dea6bce?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2542693CVE reference
- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/92c3f26a-1a84-459a-874b-07dc83c9f42aCVE reference
- https://www.acunetix.com/vulnerabilities/web/wordpress-plugin-recently-multiple-vulnerabilities-3-0-4/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.
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.