CVE-2021-21389 (GCVE-0-2021-21389)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2021-03-26 20:15 – Updated: 2024-08-03 18:09- CWE-863 - Incorrect Authorization
| URL | Tags |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress/security… | x_refsource_CONFIRM |
| https://buddypress.org/2021/03/buddypress-7-2-1-s… | x_refsource_MISC |
| https://codex.buddypress.org/releases/version-7-2-1/ | x_refsource_MISC |
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| buddypress | BuddyPress |
Affected:
>= 5.0.0, < 7.2.1
|
guessed |
Shadowserver
Known Exploited Vulnerability - GCVE BCP-07 Compliant
Exploited: Yes
Characteristics
Timestamps
Scope
Evidence
Type: Honeypot
Signal: In The Wild Attempts
Confidence: 70%
Source: shadowserver
Details
| 1D | 1 |
|---|---|
| Iot | no |
| Feed | Shadowserver Foundation honeypot/exploited-vulnerabilities |
| Type | http-scan |
| Class | cms |
| 7D Avg | 0 |
| Vendor | BuddyPress |
| 30D Avg | 0 |
| 90D Avg | 0 |
| Product | BuddyPress WordPress Plugin |
| Cisa Kev | no |
| Connections | 2 |
| Observation Date | 2026-11-10 |
| Vulnerability Class | CVSS |
| Vulnerability Score | 8.8 |
| Vulnerability Severity | High |
References
Previdian
Known Exploited Vulnerability - GCVE BCP-07 Compliant
Exploited: Yes
Timestamps
Scope
Evidence
Type: Public Report
Signal: Successful Exploitation
Confidence: 70%
Source: kevintel
Details
| Feed | KEVIntel (kevintel.com) |
|---|---|
| Title | BuddyPress privilege escalation via REST API |
| Vendor | buddypress |
| Product | BuddyPress |
| Added Date | 2025-06-30T00:00:00.000Z |
| Cvss Score | 8.1 |
| Epss Score | None |
| Cvss Severity | HIGH |
| Epss Percentile | None |
| Used In Malware | unknown |
| Ahead Of Cisa Kev | None |
| Not Yet In Cisa Kev | True |
References
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T18:09:15.798Z",
"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"shortName": "CVE"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress/security/advisories/GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3"
},
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://buddypress.org/2021/03/buddypress-7-2-1-security-release/"
},
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://codex.buddypress.org/releases/version-7-2-1/"
}
],
"title": "CVE Program Container"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"product": "BuddyPress",
"vendor": "buddypress",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "\u003e= 5.0.0, \u003c 7.2.1"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "BuddyPress is an open source WordPress plugin to build a community site. In releases of BuddyPress from 5.0.0 before 7.2.1 it\u0027s possible for a non-privileged, regular user to obtain administrator rights by exploiting an issue in the REST API members endpoint. The vulnerability has been fixed in BuddyPress 7.2.1. Existing installations of the plugin should be updated to this version to mitigate the issue."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityImpact": "NONE",
"baseScore": 8.1,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
"version": "3.1"
}
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-863",
"description": "CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2021-03-26T20:15:14.000Z",
"orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
"shortName": "GitHub_M"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM"
],
"url": "https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress/security/advisories/GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3"
},
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC"
],
"url": "https://buddypress.org/2021/03/buddypress-7-2-1-security-release/"
},
{
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC"
],
"url": "https://codex.buddypress.org/releases/version-7-2-1/"
}
],
"source": {
"advisory": "GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3",
"discovery": "UNKNOWN"
},
"title": "BuddyPress privilege escalation via REST API",
"x_legacyV4Record": {
"CVE_data_meta": {
"ASSIGNER": "security-advisories@github.com",
"ID": "CVE-2021-21389",
"STATE": "PUBLIC",
"TITLE": "BuddyPress privilege escalation via REST API"
},
"affects": {
"vendor": {
"vendor_data": [
{
"product": {
"product_data": [
{
"product_name": "BuddyPress",
"version": {
"version_data": [
{
"version_value": "\u003e= 5.0.0, \u003c 7.2.1"
}
]
}
}
]
},
"vendor_name": "buddypress"
}
]
}
},
"data_format": "MITRE",
"data_type": "CVE",
"data_version": "4.0",
"description": {
"description_data": [
{
"lang": "eng",
"value": "BuddyPress is an open source WordPress plugin to build a community site. In releases of BuddyPress from 5.0.0 before 7.2.1 it\u0027s possible for a non-privileged, regular user to obtain administrator rights by exploiting an issue in the REST API members endpoint. The vulnerability has been fixed in BuddyPress 7.2.1. Existing installations of the plugin should be updated to this version to mitigate the issue."
}
]
},
"impact": {
"cvss": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityImpact": "NONE",
"baseScore": 8.1,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
"version": "3.1"
}
},
"problemtype": {
"problemtype_data": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "eng",
"value": "CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization"
}
]
}
]
},
"references": {
"reference_data": [
{
"name": "https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress/security/advisories/GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3",
"refsource": "CONFIRM",
"url": "https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress/security/advisories/GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3"
},
{
"name": "https://buddypress.org/2021/03/buddypress-7-2-1-security-release/",
"refsource": "MISC",
"url": "https://buddypress.org/2021/03/buddypress-7-2-1-security-release/"
},
{
"name": "https://codex.buddypress.org/releases/version-7-2-1/",
"refsource": "MISC",
"url": "https://codex.buddypress.org/releases/version-7-2-1/"
}
]
},
"source": {
"advisory": "GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3",
"discovery": "UNKNOWN"
}
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
"assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
"cveId": "CVE-2021-21389",
"datePublished": "2021-03-26T20:15:14.000Z",
"dateReserved": "2020-12-22T00:00:00.000Z",
"dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T18:09:15.798Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.1",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"epss": {
"cve": "CVE-2021-21389",
"date": "2026-11-12",
"epss": "0.14811",
"percentile": "0.96732"
},
"nvd": {
"cve": {
"configurations": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:buddypress:buddypress:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "22E0A24D-C677-49B3-AD8D-4D5F342F1CBF",
"versionEndExcluding": "7.2.1",
"versionStartIncluding": "5.0.0",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "BuddyPress is an open source WordPress plugin to build a community site. In releases of BuddyPress from 5.0.0 before 7.2.1 it\u0027s possible for a non-privileged, regular user to obtain administrator rights by exploiting an issue in the REST API members endpoint. The vulnerability has been fixed in BuddyPress 7.2.1. Existing installations of the plugin should be updated to this version to mitigate the issue."
},
{
"lang": "es",
"value": "BuddyPress es un plugin de WordPress de c\u00f3digo abierto para crear un sitio comunitario.\u0026#xa0;En versiones de BuddyPress de 5.0.0 versiones anteriores a 7.2.1, es posible para un usuario regular sin privilegios obtener derechos de administrador al explotar un problema en el endpoint de los miembros de la API REST.\u0026#xa0;La vulnerabilidad ha sido corregida en BuddyPress versi\u00f3n 7.2.1.\u0026#xa0;Las instalaciones existentes del plugin deben actualizarse a esta versi\u00f3n para mitigar el problema."
}
],
"id": "CVE-2021-21389",
"lastModified": "2024-11-21T05:48:15.500",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV2": [
{
"acInsufInfo": false,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"cvssData": {
"accessComplexity": "LOW",
"accessVector": "NETWORK",
"authentication": "SINGLE",
"availabilityImpact": "COMPLETE",
"baseScore": 9.0,
"confidentialityImpact": "COMPLETE",
"integrityImpact": "COMPLETE",
"vectorString": "AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C",
"version": "2.0"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 8.0,
"impactScore": 10.0,
"obtainAllPrivilege": false,
"obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
"obtainUserPrivilege": false,
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary",
"userInteractionRequired": false
}
],
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityImpact": "NONE",
"baseScore": 8.1,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 2.8,
"impactScore": 5.2,
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"type": "Secondary"
},
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 8.8,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 2.8,
"impactScore": 5.9,
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
]
},
"published": "2021-03-26T21:15:13.520",
"references": [
{
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"tags": [
"Release Notes",
"Vendor Advisory"
],
"url": "https://buddypress.org/2021/03/buddypress-7-2-1-security-release/"
},
{
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"tags": [
"Release Notes",
"Vendor Advisory"
],
"url": "https://codex.buddypress.org/releases/version-7-2-1/"
},
{
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"tags": [
"Third Party Advisory"
],
"url": "https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress/security/advisories/GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3"
},
{
"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"tags": [
"Release Notes",
"Vendor Advisory"
],
"url": "https://buddypress.org/2021/03/buddypress-7-2-1-security-release/"
},
{
"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"tags": [
"Release Notes",
"Vendor Advisory"
],
"url": "https://codex.buddypress.org/releases/version-7-2-1/"
},
{
"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"tags": [
"Third Party Advisory"
],
"url": "https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress/security/advisories/GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com",
"vulnStatus": "Modified",
"weaknesses": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-863"
}
],
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"type": "Secondary"
}
]
}
},
"redhat_vex": {
"current_release_date": "2026-03-27T14:57:38+00:00",
"cve": "CVE-2021-21389",
"id": "CVE-2021-21389",
"initial_release_date": "2021-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
"product_status:known_not_affected": "1",
"source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "BuddyPress privilege escalation via REST API",
"url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2021/cve-2021-21389.json",
"version": "3"
}
}
}
Drag nodes to arrange them. Double-click a related vulnerability to open it, or a source to visit its link. The Physics button on the left tunes the layout and the simulation; the legend at the bottom left hides or shows nodes by kind and by sighting type.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Vulnerability timeline
Sightings and recorded dates, grouped by day · UTC
How durations are calculated
Following the VTEM framework (Black Hat USA 2015), time to patch starts when the vendor or a coordinator was informed, total time to patch at discovery, and disclosure to patch at public disclosure; vendor response time runs from the report to its acknowledgement. Time to exploit and time unpatched start at the earliest discovery or report, falling back to public disclosure. Unpatched time ends at the first recorded patch, or the calculation time when no patch is recorded. Exploitation to patch shows the interval between those two events; a published proof of concept is a public exploit, not exploitation.
Each result shows its source dates. A negative interval means the end event came first; when date-only inputs leave the order open, the result says so. Date-only inputs are approximate. The earliest evidence wins: KEV report dates and sightings are labelled as such. Records describing another vulnerability are listed but never calculated from, and a PoC alone does not establish exploitation. Missing patch evidence does not prove that no patch exists. Filters below change the event list only.
Loading timeline…
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.