# CVE-2021-21389: BuddyPress privilege escalation via REST API

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-21389-buddypress-privilege-escalation-via-rest-api  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-10-06  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-21389 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2021-10-06

BuddyPress privilege escalation via REST API

Technologies: [buddypress/buddypress (Packagist)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/buddypress-buddypress). Vendors: [Packagist](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/packagist).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-21389 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2021-21389 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2021-21389?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 6 October 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** buddypress/buddypress (Packagist) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=5.0.0,fixed=7.2.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-21389?** Yes. buddypress/buddypress (Packagist): upgrade to 7.2.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-21389?** Check whether you run buddypress/buddypress (Packagist) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- buddypress/buddypress (Packagist): upgrade to 7.2.1 or later

  ```sh
  composer require buddypress/buddypress:^7.2.1
  ```


## Affected products

- buddypress/buddypress (Packagist) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=5.0.0,fixed=7.2.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2021-21389
- GHSA-m6j4-8r7p-wpp3

## Related threats

- [BuddyPress IDOR in Friends REST API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-53675-buddypress-idor-in-friends-rest-api)
- [BuddyPress IDOR in messages REST API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-53673-buddypress-idor-in-messages-rest-api)
- [BuddyPress Docs plugin Improper Privilege Management](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2017-6954-buddypress-docs-plugin-improper-privilege-management)
- [Private data exposure via REST API in BuddyPress](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-5244-private-data-exposure-via-rest-api-in-buddypress)