Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw affects the WordPress Backup and Restore plugin version 1.0.3 from Miniorange. A logged-in attacker could delete files from a WordPress installation, potentially breaking the site, removing security-relevant files, or causing wider compromise depending on what can be deleted.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for any WordPress environment using this plugin. The business risk is site disruption and potential loss of integrity from authenticated file deletion, with public exploit information available.
Technical view
CVE-2021-47979 is an authenticated arbitrary file deletion issue in Backup and Restore 1.0.3. The source bundle describes parameter manipulation in WordPress AJAX requests leading to deletion of arbitrary files within the WordPress installation directory. It is mapped to CWE-22 and scored CVSS 8.8.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running the Miniorange Backup and Restore plugin version 1.0.3, especially where low-privileged or untrusted users can authenticate.
Exploitation context
The bundle cites a public ExploitDB reference, so exploit information is public. The CVE is not marked KEV, and no provided source confirms active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports authenticated arbitrary file deletion in version 1.0.3 only. Sources do not name a fixed version, a vendor patch, or active exploitation. Avoid expanding scope beyond the listed plugin and version without further vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Identify WordPress sites running Backup and Restore version 1.0.3.
- Check vendor and WordPress plugin guidance for an updated or remediated release.
- Disable or remove the plugin if no vendor-supported fix is available.
- Restrict WordPress accounts to trusted users while exposure is assessed.
- Back up site files and database before remediation work.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed WordPress plugins and confirm the Backup and Restore version.
- Review administrative and application logs for unusual authenticated AJAX deletion activity.
- Confirm whether affected files were removed or changed unexpectedly.
- Verify remediation by confirming the vulnerable version is no longer active.
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-22: 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 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-2021-47979 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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe 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:H2.85.9VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——VulnCheckVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
8.7HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
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
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-50503CVE reference, VulnCheck · exploit
- Official Product HomepageCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- Product ReferenceCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: WordPress Plugin Backup and Restore 1.0.3 Arbitrary File DeletionCVE reference, VulnCheck · third-party-advisory
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.
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.