How severe is CVE-2021-29447?

CVE-2021-29447 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity low, and availability none.

Is CVE-2021-29447 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 86% (100th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-29447?

CVE-2021-29447 primarily affects Wordpress. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-29447?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2021-29447 published?

CVE-2021-29447 was published on 2021-04-15 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-29447

CVE-2021-29447 is a high-severity vulnerability in Wordpress with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 86% places it in the 100th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-611.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.1)
CVSS v2: 4.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 86% (100th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-611
Affected product: Wordpress
Published: 2021-04-15
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-29447?: 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.
How severe is CVE-2021-29447?: CVE-2021-29447 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.1, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity low, and availability none.
Is CVE-2021-29447 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 86% (100th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-29447?: CVE-2021-29447 primarily affects Wordpress. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-29447?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-29447 published?: CVE-2021-29447 was published on 2021-04-15 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (3)

cpe:2.3:a:wordpress:wordpress:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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CVE-2018-1000837 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): UML Designer version <= 8.0.0 contains a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in XML parser for plugins that can…
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