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CVE-2021-29447

WordPress Authenticated XXE attack when installation is running PHP 8

7.1 HighPublic exploitFix available

Wordpress is an open source CMS. A user with the ability to upload files (like an Author) can exploit an XML parsing issue in the Media Library leading to XXE attacks. This requires WordPress installation to be using PHP 8. Access to internal files is possible in a successful XXE attack. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.7.1, along with the older affected versions via a minor release. We strongly recommend you keep auto-updates enabled.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

85.7%Up 85.1 points since Apr 16, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 7.1

WordPress Authenticated XXE attack when installation is running PHP 8

Wordpress is an open source CMS. A user with the ability to upload files (like an Author) can exploit an XML parsing issue in the Media Library leading to XXE attacks. This requires WordPress installation to be using PHP 8. Access to internal files is possible in a successful XXE attack. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.7.1, along with the older affected versions via a minor release. We strongly recommend you keep auto-updates enabled.

Record
CVE-2021-29447
CVSS 3.1
7.1 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-611
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-16064 7.1

Wordpress is an open source CMS. A user with the ability to upload files (like an Author) can exploit an XML parsing issue in the Media Library leading to XXE attacks. This requires WordPress installation to be using PHP 8. Access to internal files is possible in a successful XXE attack. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.7.1, along with the older affected versions via a minor release. We strongly recommend you keep auto-updates enabled.

Record
EUVD-2021-16064
CVSS 3.1
7.1 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
NVD 7.1

Wordpress is an open source CMS. A user with the ability to upload files (like an Author) can exploit an XML parsing issue in the Media Library leading to XXE attacks. This requires WordPress installation to be using PHP 8. Access to internal files is possible in a successful XXE attack. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.7.1, along with the older affected versions via a minor release. We strongly recommend you keep auto-updates enabled.

Record
CVE-2021-29447
CVSS 3.1
7.1 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CVSS 2.0
4.0 MediumAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-611
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 6.5

Wordpress is an open source CMS. A user with the ability to upload files (like an Author) can exploit an XML parsing issue in the Media Library leading to XXE attacks. This requires WordPress installation to be using PHP 8. Access to internal files is possible in a successful XXE attack. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.7.1, along with the older affected versions via a minor release. We strongly recommend you keep auto-updates enabled.

Record
CVE-2021-29447
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-08
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2021-29447 6.5

Wordpress is an open source CMS. A user with the ability to upload files (like an Author) can exploit an XML parsing issue in the Media Library leading to XXE attacks. This requires WordPress installation to be using PHP 8. Access to internal files is possible in a successful XXE attack. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.7.1, along with the older affected versions via a minor release. We strongly recommend you keep auto-updates enabled.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2021-29447
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2021-29447 7.1

Wordpress is an open source CMS. A user with the ability to upload files (like an Author) can exploit an XML parsing issue in the Media Library leading to XXE attacks. This requires WordPress installation to be using PHP 8. Access to internal files is possible in a successful XXE attack. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.7.1, along with the older affected versions via a minor release. We strongly recommend you keep auto-updates enabled.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2021-29447
CVSS 3.1
7.1 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVBIT-wordpress-2021-29447 No score

WordPress Authenticated XXE attack when installation is running PHP 8

Wordpress is an open source CMS. A user with the ability to upload files (like an Author) can exploit an XML parsing issue in the Media Library leading to XXE attacks. This requires WordPress installation to be using PHP 8. Access to internal files is possible in a successful XXE attack. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.7.1, along with the older affected versions via a minor release. We strongly recommend you keep auto-updates enabled.

Record
BIT-wordpress-2021-29447
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVBIT-wordpress-multisite-2021-29447 No score

WordPress Authenticated XXE attack when installation is running PHP 8

Wordpress is an open source CMS. A user with the ability to upload files (like an Author) can exploit an XML parsing issue in the Media Library leading to XXE attacks. This requires WordPress installation to be using PHP 8. Access to internal files is possible in a successful XXE attack. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.7.1, along with the older affected versions via a minor release. We strongly recommend you keep auto-updates enabled.

Record
BIT-wordpress-multisite-2021-29447
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
wordpress
Bitnami
 5.6.0 up to 5.7.1
5.7.1
wordpress-multisite
Bitnami
 5.6.0 up to 5.7.1
5.7.1
wordpress
Debian:12
 before 5.7.1+dfsg1-1
5.7.1+dfsg1-1
wordpress
Debian:13
 before 5.7.1+dfsg1-1
5.7.1+dfsg1-1
wordpress
Debian:14
 before 5.7.1+dfsg1-1
5.7.1+dfsg1-1
wordpress
Debian:9
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 4.7.20+dfsg-1+deb9u1, plus listed versions
4.7.18+dfsg-1+deb9u14.7.19+dfsg-1+deb9u14.7.5+dfsg-24.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u14.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u1~bpo8+1
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4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u24.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u2~bpo8+14.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u34.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u44.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u54.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u6
4.7.20+dfsg-1+deb9u1
wordpress
Debian:10
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 5.0.12+dfsg1-0+deb10u1, plus listed versions
5.0.10+dfsg1-0+deb10u15.0.11+dfsg1-0+deb10u15.0.4+dfsg1-15.0.4+dfsg1-1+deb10u15.0.4+dfsg1-1+deb10u2
5.0.12+dfsg1-0+deb10u1
wordpress
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
4.3+dfsg-14.3.1+dfsg-14.4+dfsg-14.4.1+dfsg-14.4.2+dfsg-14.4.2+dfsg-1ubuntu1
 None known
wordpress
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
4.8.2+dfsg-24.8.3+dfsg-14.9.1+dfsg-14.9.2+dfsg-14.9.4+dfsg-14.9.5+dfsg1-1
 None known
wordpress
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
5.2.2+dfsg1-15.2.4+dfsg1-15.3.2+dfsg1-15.3.2+dfsg1-1ubuntu1
 None known
Show 5 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
wordpress
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
5.7.1+dfsg1-2ubuntu15.8.1+dfsg1-2ubuntu15.8.2+dfsg1-1ubuntu15.8.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu15.8.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu1.1
 None known
wordpress
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.2+dfsg1-1ubuntu16.4.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu1
 None known
wordpress
Ubuntu:25.10
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.7.2+dfsg1-1.1ubuntu1
 None known
wordpress
Ubuntu:26.10
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.7.2+dfsg1-1.1ubuntu2
 None known
wordpress
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
6.7.2+dfsg1-1.1ubuntu16.7.2+dfsg1-1.1ubuntu2
 None known

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubmotikan2010/CVE-2021-294472021-04-16
PoC in GitHubVulnmachines/wordpress_cve-2021-294472021-05-23
PoC in GitHubdnr6419/CVE-2021-294472021-06-01
PoC in GitHubAssassinUKG/CVE-2021-294472021-08-27
Exploit-DBWordPress 5.7 - 'Media Library' XML External Entity Injection (XXE) (Authenticated)2021-09-20
PoC in GitHubb-abderrahmane/CVE-2021-29447-POC2022-11-05
PoC in GitHubVal-Resh/CVE-2021-29447-POC2022-11-06
PoC in GitHubelf1337/blind-xxe-controller-CVE-2021-294472022-11-06
PoC in GitHubM3l0nPan/wordpress-cve-2021-294472022-11-11
PoC in GitHubmega8bit/exploit_cve-2021-294472022-11-14
Show 15 moreShow less
Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubthomas-osgood/CVE-2021-294472022-11-15
PoC in GitHubAbdulazizalsewedy/CVE-2021-294472022-11-17
PoC in GitHubG01d3nW01f/CVE-2021-294472022-12-25
PoC in GitHubviardant/CVE-2021-294472023-01-10
PoC in GitHub0xRar/CVE-2021-29447-PoC2023-01-24
PoC in GitHubandyhsu024/CVE-2021-294472023-04-24
PoC in GitHubspecializzazione-cyber-security/demo-CVE-2021-29447-lezione2024-12-03
PoC in GitHubmagicrc/CVE-2021-294472025-06-12
PoC in GitHubTea-On/CVE-2021-29447-Authenticated-XXE-WordPress-5.6-5.72025-07-04
PoC in GitHubArtemCyberLab/Project-Project-Chimera-Exploiting-a-Modern-WordPress-XXE-to-Pillage-Secrets-2025-08-20
PoC in GitHub0xricksanchez/CVE-2021-294472025-10-31
PoC in GitHubdavids52/cve-2021-29447_auto-script2025-12-18
PoC in GitHubrdana55/CVE-2021-29447-PoC2026-01-18
PoC in GitHubdanilo1992-sys/CVE-2021-294472026-03-20
PoC in GitHubKashyapghodasara/Public_Exploit-1--Wordpress-CVE-2021-294472026-09-16

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
exploits
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, Exploit-DB, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2021-29447 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.1) in Wordpress, published April 15, 2021. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 85.7%, the 99th percentile. Fixed in wordpress 5.7.1.

References

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