CVE-2021-4382: Recently <= 3.0.4 - Arbitrary File Upload to Remote Code Exectution

Severity: high (CVSS 8.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 1.6% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2023-06-07 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-434

Description

The Recently plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to missing file type validation in the fetch_external_image() function in versions up to, and including, 3.0.4. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files on the affected site's server which may make remote code execution possible.

Affected products

hcabrera Recently: before 3.0.5 — fixed in 3.0.5

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: hcabrera Recently 3.0.5. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2542693
https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/92c3f26a-1a84-459a-874b-07dc83c9f42a
https://www.acunetix.com/vulnerabilities/web/wordpress-plugin-recently-multiple-vulnerabilities-3-0-4/
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f8297149-2de3-4e49-80f9-6ea59dea6bce?source=cve
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2542693
https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/92c3f26a-1a84-459a-874b-07dc83c9f42a
https://www.acunetix.com/vulnerabilities/web/wordpress-plugin-recently-multiple-vulnerabilities-3-0-4/
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f8297149-2de3-4e49-80f9-6ea59dea6bce?source=cve

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