Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-4413 affects the Process Steps Template Designer WordPress plugin. A malicious site or link could cause a logged-in administrator to save field icon changes without proper request validation. The impact is limited integrity change, but it matters for sites using this plugin because administrator interaction is enough to trigger it.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate WordPress hygiene item, not an emergency. Prioritize remediation for public or business-critical sites using the plugin, then fold remaining instances into normal plugin patch management.
Technical view
The vulnerability is a CSRF issue in the plugin's save() function, attributed to missing or incorrect nonce validation. Sources identify versions up to and including 1.2.1 as vulnerable. The CVSS 3.1 score is 4.3, with network access, low complexity, no attacker privileges, required user interaction, and low integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running Process Steps Template Designer versions up to and including 1.2.1, especially where administrators are active in the dashboard. The bundle does not identify affected CPEs or broader product families.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Abuse requires tricking a site administrator into taking an action such as clicking a link, after which a forged request could save field icons.
Researcher notes
The core issue is CWE-352 CSRF on save(), with integrity-only impact in the supplied CVSS vector. Evidence supports administrator-assisted exploitation but not standalone unauthenticated compromise or active exploitation. Fixed-version details are not explicit in the supplied bundle, so confirm against vendor or WordPress records.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Process Steps Template Designer and record installed versions.
- Update the plugin using official WordPress or vendor guidance if a fixed version is available.
- Remove or disable the plugin where it is not required.
- Limit administrator browsing from active WordPress sessions where practical.
- Review plugin settings for unexpected field icon changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether any site runs Process Steps Template Designer version 1.2.1 or earlier.
- Check the plugin changelog or WordPress Trac for nonce validation changes around save().
- Verify administrative save actions require valid nonce protection in the installed version.
- Review recent admin activity and plugin settings for unauthorized icon changes.
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-352: 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.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-4413 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
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:N/I:L/A:N2.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a98f6a68-5863-4147-86c4-8c19af469be3?source=cveCVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/25-wordpress-plugins-vulnerable-to-csrf-attacks/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/more-wordpress-plugins-and-themes-vulnerable-to-csrf-attacks/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-3/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-2/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-1/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-5/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-4/CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=2473649%40process-steps-template-designer&new=2473649%40process-steps-template-designer&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=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.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.