Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This issue affects the WP Google Map WordPress plugin through version 1.8.0. A logged-in low-privilege user could create, edit, or delete maps, which can disrupt site content or damage trust. It is not described as exposing confidential data, and no provided source shows active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a routine but necessary WordPress hygiene item. Prioritize affected public sites with many user accounts, customer-facing maps, or weak account governance.
Technical view
CVE-2021-45729 is a CWE-269 improper privilege management flaw in WP Google Map <= 1.8.0. The CVSS 3.1 score is 5.4, with network access, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and limited integrity and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running WP Google Map version 1.8.0 or earlier, especially where subscriber, contributor, or other low-role accounts exist.
Exploitation context
The bundled sources indicate authenticated low-role users can manage maps. CISA KEV status is false, and the provided sources do not establish active exploitation, public exploit availability, or unauthenticated attack.
Researcher notes
The evidence supports privilege escalation within plugin map-management functions, not broader WordPress administrator takeover. Sources do not provide detailed vulnerable endpoints, exploit telemetry, or a confirmed remediation version in the supplied bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the WP Google Map plugin and deployed version.
- Check vendor and Patchstack guidance for a fixed version or recommended action.
- Upgrade beyond affected versions when a vendor-confirmed fix is available.
- Disable or remove the plugin if it is unused or cannot be safely updated.
- Review low-privilege WordPress accounts and remove unnecessary access.
Validation and detection
- Confirm no production site runs WP Google Map version 1.8.0 or earlier.
- Review WordPress audit logs for unexpected map creation, edits, or deletion.
- Check whether non-admin roles have map-management capabilities.
- Verify backups exist for affected site content and map configuration.
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-269: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. 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 lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-45729 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
- 5.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
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:N/I:L/A:L2.82.5Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/gmap-embed/#developersCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/gmap-embed/wordpress-wp-google-map-plugin-1-8-0-privilege-escalation-vulnerabilityCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
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.