CVE-2021-48016: DedeCMS 5.8.1-beta Unauthenticated RCE via plus/flink.php

Is it exploited?

Not on CISA's list. CISA has not added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog as of 29 Oct 2026. If CISA adds it, this page shows it as known exploited.

How likely is exploitation in the next 30 days?

0.4%

EPSS score, percentile 38.2 of all scored records. A probability estimated by FIRST, not a report of exploitation.

CISA's SSVC assessment in the CVE record lists exploitation as poc.

How severe?

9.3 Critical

CVSS v4.0 base score, given by the CNA

What should I do?

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

• 5.8.1-beta and earlier

Versions by product

Source: CISA KEV 2026.10.29, as of 29 Oct 2026; FIRST EPSS, as of 29 Oct 2026; 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

As listed in the CVE record.

Versions not listed are: unknown.

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

About this vulnerability

DedeCMS through 5.8.1-beta contains a PHP code injection vulnerability in ShowMsg() where the HTTP Referer header is written into a DedeTemplate string and included. Unauthenticated attackers can send a crafted Referer to /plus/flink.php?dopost=save with an empty validate code to execute arbitrary PHP and system commands. Exploitation evidence was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on…

Summary: CVE record, as of 30 Oct 2026.

• CISA has not added CVE-2021-48016 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, as of 29 Oct 2026.
• The CVE record was published on 22 Oct 2026.
• The CVE record carries a CVSS v4.0 base score of 9.3 (Critical), given by its CNA.
• FIRST's EPSS model puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.4% (percentile 38.2), as of 29 Oct 2026. EPSS is a statistical estimate, not a report of exploitation.
• CISA's SSVC assessment in the CVE record: exploitation poc, automatable yes, technical impact total.

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

Description

DedeCMS 5.8.1-beta Unauthenticated RCE via plus/flink.php

DedeCMS through 5.8.1-beta contains a PHP code injection vulnerability in ShowMsg() where the HTTP Referer header is written into a DedeTemplate string and included. Unauthenticated attackers can send a crafted Referer to /plus/flink.php?dopost=save with an empty validate code to execute arbitrary PHP and system commands. Exploitation evidence was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2023-10-14.

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

Timeline