# CVE-2021-47959: WPGraphQL WordPress plugin denial of service via batched queries

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-47959-wpgraphql-wordpress-plugin-denial-of-service-via-batched-queries  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-15. Updated: 2026-05-15  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-47959 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-05-15

WPGraphQL is a WordPress plugin that provides an API for developers to fetch website content. A vulnerability in version 1.3.5 and earlier allows an attacker to crash the website or make it unresponsive by sending specially crafted, repetitive data requests. This can lead to a total service outage, preventing legitimate users from accessing the site and potentially causing server memory exhaustion.

Technologies: [WPGraphQL](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/wpgraphql). Vendors: [WPGraphQL](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/wpgraphql).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-47959 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2021-47959 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2021-47959?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 15 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** WPGraphQL <= 1.3.5.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-47959?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2021-47959 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-47959?** Check whether you run WPGraphQL 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.

## Technical details

A Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability exists in WPGraphQL versions up to and including 1.3.5 due to improper resource allocation limits (CWE-770). The plugin fails to sufficiently throttle or validate batched GraphQL queries containing highly duplicated fields. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this by sending a POST request to the GraphQL endpoint with an amplified payload. This triggers excessive resource consumption, leading to server out-of-memory (OOM) conditions and MySQL connection exhaustion. A proof-of-concept exploit is publicly available.

## Affected products

- WPGraphQL WPGraphQL <= 1.3.5

## Timeline

- 2021-04-12: other: Vulnerability discovered
- 2021-04-27: disclosed: Exploit published on Exploit-DB
- 2026-05-15: advisory: NVD/VulnCheck advisory published

## References

- [https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/49807](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/49807)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/wordpress-plugin-wpgraphql-denial-of-service](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/wordpress-plugin-wpgraphql-denial-of-service)
- [https://www.wpgraphql.com/](https://www.wpgraphql.com/)

## Related threats

- [WPGraphQL createComment mutation missing authorization](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119702-wpgraphql-before-2-24-1-contains-a-missing-authorization)
- [WPGraphQL missing rate limiting in password reset email mutation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119701-wpgraphql-before-2-24-1-contains-a-missing-rate-limiting)
- [WPGraphQL authorization bypass in updatePost mutation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-88974-wpgraphql-authorization-bypass-in-updatepost-mutation)
- [WPGraphQL user enumeration in SendPasswordResetEmail mutation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-54768-wpgraphql-user-enumeration-in-sendpasswordresetemail-mutation)
- [WPGraphQL SQL injection in WordPress plugin](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40762-wpgraphql-sql-injection-in-wordpress-plugin)