# CVE-2021-24376: Autoptimize < 2.7.8 - Arbitrary File Upload via "Import Settings"

> An attacker can upload a malicious PHP file via the Import Settings feature to achieve remote code execution on the WordPress site.

- **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:** 21 Jun 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8637-ph22-g43w

## What is CVE-2021-24376?

CVE-2021-24376 is a critical vulnerability in Unknown Autoptimize, published on 21 Jun 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Autoptimize WordPress plugin before 2.7.8 attempts to delete malicious files (such as .php) form the uploaded archive via the "Import Settings" feature, after its extraction. However, the extracted folders are not checked and it is possible to upload a zip which contained a directory with PHP file in it and then it is not removed from the disk. It is a bypass of CVE-2020-24948 which allows sending a PHP file via the "Import Settings" functionality to achieve Remote Code Execution.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-24376?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Autoptimize Autoptimize.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-24376?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-24376 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-24376 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24376 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Autoptimize

- [CVE-2021-24377](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24377/): Autoptimize < 2.7.8 - Race Condition leading to RCE (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2020-24948](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-24948/): File upload in n/a (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2023-2113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2113/): Autoptimize < 3.1.7 - Admin+ Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Settings Import (medium 4.8)
- [CVE-2022-2635](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2635/): Autoptimize < 3.1.1 - Admin+ Stored Cross Site Scripting (medium 4.8)
- [CVE-2021-24378](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24378/): Autoptimize < 2.7.8 - Authenticated Stored XSS via File Upload (medium 4.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-24376 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-24376 is a critical vulnerability in Unknown Autoptimize, published on 21 Jun 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-2021-24376 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Unknown Autoptimize. 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-2021-24376/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24376/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24376
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24376
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24376

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24376/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.