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CVE Record

CVE-2021-47982: WordPress Plugin WP-Paginate 2.1.3 Stored XSS via preset

WordPress Plugin WP-Paginate 2.1.3 contains a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts by manipulating the preset parameter. Attackers can submit POST requests to the plugin settings page with script payloads in the preset parameter that are stored and executed when administrators view the settings.

MediumCVSS 6.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A flaw in the WP-Paginate WordPress plugin version 2.1.3 lets a logged-in user save malicious code into the plugin's settings. When an administrator later opens that settings page, the code runs in their browser, which can lead to account takeover or unwanted changes to the site.

Executive priority

Moderate priority. This is a plugin-specific browser-side flaw that requires an authenticated account and administrator interaction, but successful abuse can hijack an admin session. Address during the next patching cycle; escalate if the site allows self-registration or hosts many low-trust users.

Technical view

CVE-2021-47982 is a stored cross-site scripting (CWE-79) issue in WP-Paginate 2.1.3 by MaxFoundry. An authenticated user can POST a script payload to the plugin's settings page via the preset parameter. The input is stored without adequate sanitization and executed in the administrator's session when settings are viewed. CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Likely exposure

Applies to WordPress sites running WP-Paginate 2.1.3 where non-admin authenticated accounts can reach the plugin settings endpoint. Sites that restrict wp-admin to trusted users have lower exposure; multi-author or public-registration sites face higher risk of an insider or compromised low-privilege account triggering the payload.

Exploitation context

Not listed in CISA KEV. A public proof-of-concept exists on Exploit-DB (49355) and a VulnCheck advisory documents the issue. No cited source confirms active in-the-wild exploitation. Attack requires authenticated access and administrator interaction (viewing settings), which limits opportunistic mass exploitation.

Researcher notes

Stored XSS via the preset parameter with scope change (S:C) reflects that the payload executes in the admin's browser context. PR:L confirms authentication is required, and UI:N indicates the admin does not need to click anything beyond visiting settings. No cited patch commit or fixed version is present in the source bundle; verify current plugin status with the vendor before recommending a specific upgrade version.

Mitigation direction

  • Check the WP-Paginate plugin page for a version newer than 2.1.3 and update if available.
  • If no fix is published, deactivate WP-Paginate or restrict access to plugin settings endpoints.
  • Enforce least privilege on WordPress accounts and disable open user registration where possible.
  • Deploy a WAF rule to filter script payloads on plugin settings POST requests.
  • Audit stored plugin options for suspicious HTML or JavaScript content.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory WordPress sites and confirm which run WP-Paginate 2.1.3 via the Plugins screen or wp-cli.
  • Review the plugin's stored options (wp_options) for unexpected script or HTML markup in preset values.
  • Check WordPress access logs for unusual POST requests to WP-Paginate settings endpoints.
  • In a lab, verify sanitization behavior by submitting benign HTML in the preset field as a low-privileged user.
  • Confirm administrator sessions use browser XSS protections and unique credentials.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · medium confidence lookup

CWE-79: 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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-47982 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.4 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Official CVE source material

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.

2CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
4Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: pocAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.4CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N3.12.7VulnCheck
5.1CVSS 4.0MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N——VulnCheck

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 4.0 score

5.1Medium
CVSS 4.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-47982Attack VectorAttack ComplexityAttack RequirementsPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionVS ConfidentialityVS IntegrityVS AvailabilitySS ConfidentialitySS IntegritySS Availability

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Attack Requirements
NonePresent
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NonePassiveActive
VS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
VS Integrity
HighLowNone
VS Availability
HighLowNone
SS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
SS Integrity
HighLowNone
SS Availability
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
maxfoundryWP-Paginate2.1.3Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-79

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-79 · source CWE mapping

Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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