Patreon WordPress - Path Traversal (CVE-2021-24227)
Description
The Jetpack Scan team identified a Local File Disclosure vulnerability in the Patreon WordPress plugin before 1.7.0 that could be abused by anyone visiting the site. Using this attack vector, an attacker could leak important internal files like wp-config.php, which contains database credentials and cryptographic keys used in the generation of nonces and cookies.
psychologyCrowdSec Analysis
CVE-2021-24227 is a vulnerability within the Patreon WordPress plugin that allows for local file disclosure, enabling attackers to access sensitive files such as configuration data and cryptographic keys.
CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 1st of June 2025.
CrowdSec network observations suggest that most exploitation of CVE-2021-24227 involves focused reconnaissance to identify viable targets. Attackers typically tailor their campaigns based on system exposure and configuration. It is unlikely that a given attack is accidental. Data from the CrowdSec community also indicates a gradual decrease in attacks targeting CVE-2021-24227. While still present in the wild, exploitation levels have dropped noticeably week-over-week. This may signal that the vulnerability is becoming less relevant or that defenses are improving fast enough for attackers to lose interest.
Observed exploitation attempts involve HTTP requests containing the ?patron_only_image= parameter, often used to expose internal file content.
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| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CVE Published | 2021-04-12 |
| Rule Released | 2025-06-01 |
| CrowdSec First Seen | 2025-06-05 |