# CVE-2021-24227: Patreon WordPress < 1.7.0 - Unauthenticated Local File Disclosure

> Unauthenticated attackers can leak sensitive internal files like wp-config.php from the Patreon WordPress plugin, exposing database credentials and keys.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cc3j-r9g7-4r8c

## What is CVE-2021-24227?

CVE-2021-24227 is a high-severity vulnerability in Unknown Patreon WordPress, published on 12 Apr 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Jetpack Scan team identified a Local File Disclosure vulnerability in the Patreon WordPress plugin before 1.7.0 that could be abused by anyone visiting the site. Using this attack vector, an attacker could leak important internal files like wp-config.php, which contains database credentials and cryptographic keys used in the generation of nonces and cookies.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-24227?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Patreon Patreon Wordpress.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-24227?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-24227 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-24227 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-24227 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Patreon WordPress  <1.7.0 - Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-24227.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Patreon WordPress

- [CVE-2018-20984](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20984/): Deserialization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-24228](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24228/): Patreon WordPress < 1.7.2 - Reflected XSS on Login Form (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2021-24229](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24229/): Patreon WordPress < 1.7.2 - Reflected XSS on patreon_save_attachment_patreon_level AJAX action (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2021-24230](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24230/): Patreon WordPress < 1.7.0 - CSRF to Overwrite/Create User Meta (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2021-24231](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24231/): Patreon WordPress < 1.7.0 - CSRF to Disconnect Sites From Patreon (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-24227 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-24227 is a high-severity vulnerability in Unknown Patreon WordPress, published on 12 Apr 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-24227 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Patreon WordPress. 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-2021-24227/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24227/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24227
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24227
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24227

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24227/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.