CVE-2021-36888: WordPress Image Hover Effects Ultimate plugin <= 9.6.1 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary Options Update leading to full website compromise

Is it exploited?

Reported, not confirmed by CISA. VulnCheck KEV lists it as exploited in the wild. CISA has not added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog as of 29 Oct 2026.

VulnCheck KEV lists it since 16 Dec 2021. It cites 130 public reports, the first from 16 Dec 2021.

• patchstack.com
• dashboard.shadowserver.org
• dashboard.shadowserver.org

How likely is exploitation in the next 30 days?

6.5%

EPSS score, percentile 93.8 of all scored records. A probability estimated by FIRST, not a report of exploitation.

How severe?

9.8 Critical

CVSS v3.1 base score, given by the CNA

What should I do?

Update to 9.6.2 or higher version.Solution from the CVE record.

CISA has set no required action, because the vulnerability is not in KEV.

The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.

Which versions are affected?

Affected

• <= 9.6.1 through 9.6.1

Versions by product

Source: CISA KEV 2026.10.29, as of 29 Oct 2026; VulnCheck KEV, as of 30 Oct 2026; FIRST EPSS, as of 29 Oct 2026; CVE List, as of 30 Oct 2026. About the data.

Description

WordPress Image Hover Effects Ultimate plugin <= 9.6.1 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary Options Update leading to full website compromise

Unauthenticated Arbitrary Options Update vulnerability leading to full website compromise discovered in Image Hover Effects Ultimate (versions <= 9.6.1) WordPress plugin.

Source: CVE List, as of 30 Oct 2026. About the data.

What to do

Advisories and patches

The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.

This summary is based on the CVE record as of 30 Oct 2026. Check the vendor's advisory before you act: affected versions and fixes can change.

Affected products and versions

Source: CVE List, as of 30 Oct 2026. About the data.

Timeline