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Vulnerability record · CVE-2021-21389 · published 26 March 2021

CVE-2021-21389: Buddypress incorrect authorization vulnerability

Buddypress · Buddypress

BuddyPress is an open source WordPress plugin to build a community site. In releases of BuddyPress from 5.0.0 before 7.2.1 it's possible for a non-privileged, regular user to obtain administrator rights by exploiting an issue in the REST API members endpoint. The vulnerability has been fixed in BuddyPress 7.2.1. Existing installations of the plugin should be updated to this version to mitigate the issue.

8.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 14% · top 3.7% CWE-863 · Incorrect authorization
8.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 9.0
14%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
6References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

BuddyPress is an open source WordPress plugin to build a community site. In releases of BuddyPress from 5.0.0 before 7.2.1 it's possible for a non-privileged, regular user to obtain administrator rights by exploiting an issue in the REST API members endpoint. The vulnerability has been fixed in BuddyPress 7.2.1. Existing installations of the plugin should be updated to this version to mitigate the issue.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://buddypress.org/2021/03/buddypress-7-2-1-security-release/ Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://codex.buddypress.org/releases/version-7-2-1/ Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress/security/advisories/GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3 Third Party Advisory
https://buddypress.org/2021/03/buddypress-7-2-1-security-release/ Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://codex.buddypress.org/releases/version-7-2-1/ Release NotesVendor Advisory
https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress/security/advisories/GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3 Third Party Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2021-21389), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.