# CVE-2021-24966: Error Log Viewer Plugin <= 1.1.1 - Admin+ Arbitrary File Clearing

> High-privilege users can clear arbitrary files on the web server due to lack of path validation in the Error Log Viewer plugin.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Mar 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6x4q-qqxj-h82w

## What is CVE-2021-24966?

CVE-2021-24966 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Unknown Error Log Viewer by BestWebSoft, published on 14 Mar 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Error Log Viewer WordPress plugin through 1.1.1 does not validate the path of the log file to clear, allowing high privilege users to clear arbitrary files on the web server, including those outside of the blog folder

Weakness: CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-24966?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Bestwebsoft Error Log Viewer.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-24966?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-24966 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-24966 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24966 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- WordPress Plugin Error Log Viewer 1.1.1 - Arbitrary File Clearing (Authenticated) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Error Log Viewer by BestWebSoft

- [CVE-2023-6821](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6821/): Error Log Viewer < 1.1.3 - Directory Listing to Sensitive Data Exposure (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2021-24761](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24761/): Error Log Viewer < 1.1.2 - Arbitrary Text File Deletion via CSRF (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2017-18562](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-18562/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-24966 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-24966 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Unknown Error Log Viewer by BestWebSoft, published on 14 Mar 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24966 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Unknown Error Log Viewer by BestWebSoft. 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-2021-24966/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24966/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24966
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24966
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24966

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24966/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.