# CVE-2021-24171: WooCommerce Upload Files < 59.4 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload

> Unauthenticated attackers can upload arbitrary PHP files via extension bypass and path traversal, leading to remote code execution.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-73q3-2843-4j2x

## What is CVE-2021-24171?

CVE-2021-24171 is a critical vulnerability in Unknown WooCommerce Upload Files, published on 5 Apr 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The WooCommerce Upload Files WordPress plugin before 59.4 ran a single sanitization pass to remove blocked extensions such as .php. It was possible to bypass this and upload a file with a PHP extension by embedding a "blocked" extension within another "blocked" extension in the "wcuf_file_name" parameter. It was also possible to perform a double extension attack and upload files to a different location via path traversal using the "wcuf_current_upload_session_id" parameter.

Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-24171?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Vanquish Woocommerce Upload Files.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-24171?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-24171 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-24171 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24171 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown WooCommerce Upload Files

- [CVE-2024-10820](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-10820/): WooCommerce Upload Files <= 84.3 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-24171 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-24171 is a critical vulnerability in Unknown WooCommerce Upload Files, published on 5 Apr 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24171 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Unknown WooCommerce Upload Files. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24171/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24171/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24171
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24171
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24171

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24171/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.