# CVE-2021-24436: W3 Total Cache < 2.1.4 - Reflected XSS in Extensions Page (Attribute Context)

> Reflected XSS in W3 Total Cache allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in admin browsers via crafted links, potentially leading to site compromise.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8qcc-x8gh-5483

## What is CVE-2021-24436?

CVE-2021-24436 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in BoldGrid W3 Total Cache, published on 19 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The W3 Total Cache WordPress plugin before 2.1.4 was vulnerable to a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) security vulnerability within the "extension" parameter in the Extensions dashboard, which is output in an attribute without being escaped first. This could allow an attacker, who can convince an authenticated admin into clicking a link, to run malicious JavaScript within the user's web browser, which could lead to full site compromise.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-24436?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Boldgrid W3 Total Cache.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-24436?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-24436 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-24436 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-24436 exists.

Public exploit code:

- WordPress W3 Total Cache <2.1.4 - Cross-Site Scripting (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-24436.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in BoldGrid W3 Total Cache

- [CVE-2024-12365](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-12365/): W3 Total Cache <= 2.8.1 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Missing Authorization to Server-Side Request Forgery (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2012-6077](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6077/): Information disclosure in Total Cache (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2012-6078](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6078/): Information disclosure in Total Cache (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2012-6079](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6079/): Information disclosure in Total Cache (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-6715](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-6715/): Path traversal in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-24436 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-24436 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in BoldGrid W3 Total Cache, published on 19 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-24436 exists.

Affected product: BoldGrid W3 Total Cache. 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-2021-24436/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24436/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24436
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24436
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24436

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24436/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.