Controlled Admin Access < 1.5.6 - Privilege Escalation
The Controlled Admin Access plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in versions up to, and including, 1.5.5 by not properly restricting access to the configuration page. This makes it possible for attackers to create a new administrator role with unrestricted access.
CVE-2021-4360 is a critical severity with CVSS 9.9 Privilege Escalation issue affecting the Plugin Controlled Admin Access. It affects Versions before 1.5.6 and is fixed in 1.5.6.
Review the full Controlled Admin Access vulnerability cluster
Use the related hub and response guides to connect this CVE-2021-4360 report with patch validation, scanner checks, and site hardening work.
Open the grouped hub for related CVEs, affected ranges, severity mix, and patch coverage.
Check access, XML-RPC exposure, backup readiness, and monitoring after patching.
Use containment, evidence capture, remediation, and validation steps when exploit risk is high.
CVE-2021-4360 is tracked for the Plugin Controlled Admin Access as critical severity with CVSS 9.9. The affected range is Versions before 1.5.6. Update Controlled Admin Access to 1.5.6 or newer where that version is compatible with the site.
Why this report is useful for search and triage
Search engines and operators need more than a title. This page exposes the identifier, affected range, patch evidence, and source coverage that make the vulnerability actionable.
This report has a CVE identifier, which makes it suitable for focused search and vulnerability triage workflows.
Affected version data gives operators a concrete comparison point against installed WordPress software.
A fixed version is present, so the page can answer update and remediation intent directly.
External references are available for source validation, advisory review, and incident notes.
How to validate this finding
Use these checks when converting this record into a patch ticket, incident note, or risk acceptance decision.
Inventory the installed Plugin package and compare its version with Versions before 1.5.6.
Confirm Controlled Admin Access is updated to 1.5.6 or newer.
Review references and CVSS vector details for exploitability, authentication requirements, and exposure path.
After patching, re-run vulnerability monitoring and keep the related plugin or theme hub under review for follow-up CVEs.
| Software Type | Plugin |
|---|---|
| Software Slug |
controlled-admin-access
View on wordpress.org
|
| CVE | CVE-2021-4360 |
| Patched Versions |
1.5.6
|
| Affected Versions |
Versions before 1.5.6
|
Related CVEs for Controlled Admin Access
These internal links group the same WordPress plugin by CVE, issue type, severity, and patch status so operators and search engines can connect the full vulnerability cluster.
This record contains material that is subject to copyright
License: Defiant hereby grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute this software vulnerability information. Any copy of the software vulnerability information you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you include a hyperlink to this vulnerability record and reproduce Defiant's copyright designation and this license in any such copy. Read more
License: CVE Usage: MITRE hereby grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®). Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you reproduce MITRE's copyright designation and this license in any such copy. Read more