WordPress 5.2.1 is an older version of the popular content management system that powers over 7,400 websites worldwide. However, security researchers have discovered 16 significant vulnerabilities in this version—including 2 critical flaws that could allow hackers to bypass authentication and execute malicious code on your site. If your website still runs WordPress 5.2.1, you're potentially at serious risk of data theft, malware infection, and complete site compromise.
This guide breaks down the most dangerous vulnerabilities affecting WordPress 5.2.1, explains the real-world risks they pose to your business, and provides step-by-step instructions to protect your website. Whether you're running this version intentionally or didn't realize you needed to update, this article will help you understand the threats and take immediate action.
WordPress 5.2.1 is an older release of WordPress, the world's most popular website building platform. Released in 2019, this version was designed to provide core blogging and website management features for users who wanted a self-hosted solution. Think of WordPress as the foundation of your website—it's the behind-the-scenes software that manages your content, users, and overall site functionality. However, like all software released years ago, WordPress 5.2.1 has been thoroughly analyzed by security experts, and numerous security weaknesses have been discovered over time.
When software vulnerabilities are discovered, they're assigned CVE numbers (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) so the security community can track and fix them. WordPress 5.2.1 currently has 16 known vulnerabilities, with the most severe ones affecting popular plugins that extend WordPress functionality. These vulnerabilities range from SQL injection attacks (where hackers can steal your database) to authentication bypass (where attackers can access accounts without passwords) to arbitrary file uploads (where malicious files can be placed on your server). Running outdated versions of WordPress and its plugins is one of the top reasons websites get hacked.
16 CVEs found. The most critical are explained below.
The Zero Spam plugin has a security flaw that allows hackers to manipulate how it searches your database. Instead of blocking spam, attackers can use this flaw to access, modify, or delete your website data directly through the WordPress admin area.
Impact: Attackers could steal sensitive information from your database, delete content, or compromise customer data without needing to log in to your site.
↗ View on NVDThe RegistrationMagic plugin's Google login feature doesn't properly verify that users are who they claim to be. This means someone could fake being any user without needing a real Google account or password.
Impact: Attackers can hijack any user account on your site, including admin accounts, giving them full control over your website and customer data.
↗ View on NVDThe Advanced File Manager plugin doesn't properly check what type of files users are uploading. This allows even basic users to upload dangerous files like viruses or malicious scripts disguised as images.
Impact: Hackers can upload malware to your server, potentially infecting your entire website and spreading to your visitors' computers.
↗ View on NVDSimilar to the previous Advanced File Manager issue, newer versions of the plugin also fail to validate uploaded files, allowing malicious files to be placed on your server.
Impact: Attackers can install malware or backdoors on your website, giving them long-term unauthorized access.
↗ View on NVDThe Small Package Quotes plugin doesn't properly secure certain form fields, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands into your database queries.
Impact: Hackers can access or manipulate your quotes data, customer information, or other sensitive database records.
↗ View on NVDThe WP Activity Log plugin doesn't properly clean user information before displaying it. Attackers can inject hidden malicious code that runs when administrators view the activity log.
Impact: Malicious scripts can steal admin credentials, compromise your website, or hijack admin sessions without the admin knowing.
↗ View on NVDShowing first 10 of 10. View all on NVD ↗
| CVE ID | Severity | Score | Published | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2013-2107 | MEDIUM | 6.8 | 2014-05-23 | Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Mail On Update plugin before 5.2.0 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for … |
| CVE-2024-13805 | MEDIUM | 6.4 | 2025-03-07 | The Advanced File Manager — Ultimate WordPress File Manager and Document Library Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via SVG File uploads in a… |
| CVE-2025-8902 | MEDIUM | 6.4 | 2025-09-23 | The Widget Options - Extended plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'do_sidebar' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 5.2.1… |
| CVE-2009-5158 | MEDIUM | 6.1 | 2019-08-22 | The google-analyticator plugin before 5.2.1 for WordPress has insufficient HTML sanitization for Google Analytics API text. |
| CVE-2024-9651 | MEDIUM | 6.1 | 2024-12-09 | The Fluent Forms WordPress plugin before 5.2.1 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Sit… |
| CVE-2024-12408 | MEDIUM | 6.1 | 2024-12-21 | The WP on AWS plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via $_POST data in all versions up to, and including, 5.2.1 due to insufficient input sanitizati… |
| CVE-2024-1584 | MEDIUM | 5.3 | 2024-05-02 | The Analytify – Google Analytics Dashboard For WordPress (GA4 analytics made easy) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capabil… |
| CVE-2024-13666 | MEDIUM | 5.3 | 2025-03-22 | The Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to IP Address Spoofing in all versions up to, and inc… |
| CVE-2022-3936 | MEDIUM | 4.8 | 2023-01-02 | The Team Members WordPress plugin before 5.2.1 does not sanitize and escapes some of its settings, which could allow high-privilege users such as editors to perform Stored Cross-S… |
| CVE-2023-39999 | MEDIUM | 4.3 | 2023-10-13 | Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in WordPress from 6.3 through 6.3.1, from 6.2 through 6.2.2, from 6.1 through 6.13, from 6.0 through 6.0.5, from 5.9 thr… |
Plain English · Fix recommendations · Instant PDF & HTML download
Scan your site in 30 seconds. Used by 500+ web agencies.
WordPress 5.2.1 contains serious security vulnerabilities that put your website, customer data, and business reputation at serious risk. The two critical flaws alone could allow attackers to completely take over your site without your knowledge. The good news is that fixing this problem is straightforward—updating WordPress and your plugins to the latest versions closes these security gaps and protects your site from exploitation.
Don't wait for a hacker to find you. Use SiteRecipe.com's free vulnerability scanner to identify outdated software on your WordPress site, get personalized recommendations for fixing each issue, and receive ongoing security monitoring to catch new threats before they can harm your business. SiteRecipe.com makes WordPress security simple, automatic, and stress-free. Start your free security scan today and get peace of mind knowing your site is protected.
Web agencies use SiteRecipe to produce branded PDF security reports in 30 seconds.