# CVE-2021-24981: Directorist – Business Directory Plugin < 7.0.6.2 - CSRF to Remote File Upload

> Attackers can upload arbitrary PHP shells via CSRF, leading to remote code execution on WordPress sites using the Directorist plugin.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Dec 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g47h-745c-4p4f

## What is CVE-2021-24981?

CVE-2021-24981 is a high-severity vulnerability in Unknown Directorist – Business Directory Plugin, published on 21 Dec 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 Directorist WordPress plugin before 7.0.6.2 was vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery to Remote File Upload leading to arbitrary PHP shell uploads in the wp-content/plugins directory.

Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type), CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-24981?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wpwax Directorist.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-24981?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-24981 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-24981 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24981 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Directorist – Business Directory Plugin

- [CVE-2023-1888](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1888/): Directorist <= 7.5.4 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary User Password Reset to Privilege Escalation (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-1570](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-1570/): Auth bypass in Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2023-1889](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1889/): Missing authorization in Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2022-3961](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3961/): Directorist < 7.4.4 - Subscriber+ Sensitive Information Disclosure (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2022-3930](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3930/): Directorist < 7.4.2.2 - Subscriber+ Arbitrary User Password Update via IDOR (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-24981 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-24981 is a high-severity vulnerability in Unknown Directorist – Business Directory Plugin, published on 21 Dec 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: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24981 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Unknown Directorist – Business Directory Plugin. 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-2021-24981/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24981/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24981
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24981
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24981

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24981/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.