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A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in BuddyPress versions 5.0.0 through 7.2.0, where a flaw in the REST API members endpoint allows a non-privileged user to gain administrator rights. The vulnerability is due to improper authorization checks in the affected endpoint, enabling attackers to escalate their privileges within the WordPress site.
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1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.
This repository provides a full proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2021-21389, a privilege escalation and remote code execution vulnerability in BuddyPress (WordPress plugin) versions 5.0.0 to 7.2.0. The main exploit script (CVE-2021-21389.py) automates the attack chain: it registers a new user via the BuddyPress REST API, escalates privileges to administrator by abusing the '/wp-json/buddypress/v1/members/me' endpoint, and then achieves remote code execution by uploading a PHP webshell as a fake plugin. The exploit requires the target to allow user registration and have the vulnerable BuddyPress version installed. The repository also includes a Dockerfile and configuration files to set up a vulnerable WordPress/BuddyPress environment for testing. The attack vector is network-based, targeting HTTP endpoints exposed by the WordPress instance. The exploit is operational, providing a working attack chain and a functional webshell payload.
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