CVE-2018-20986 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The advanced-custom-fields plugin (also known as Elliot Condon Advanced Custom Fields) for WordPress versions prior to 5.7.8 has a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2018-20986

Authors of the plugin introduced a security flaw that could be exploited by attackers to execute malicious scripts on vulnerable websites.

What is CVE-2018-20986?

The CVE-2018-20986 vulnerability is a cross-site scripting (XSS) issue in the advanced-custom-fields plugin for WordPress versions before 5.7.8.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20986

This vulnerability could allow attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts on websites using the affected plugin, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20986

The technical details of the CVE-2018-20986 vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The advanced-custom-fields plugin before version 5.7.8 for WordPress is susceptible to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks due to improper input validation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: Versions prior to 5.7.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into input fields or parameters, which are not properly sanitized by the plugin, leading to the execution of unauthorized code.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2018-20986, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the advanced-custom-fields plugin to version 5.7.8 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor and audit input fields and user-generated content for suspicious code.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation and output encoding practices in web applications to prevent XSS attacks.
Educate developers and administrators about secure coding practices and the importance of regular security updates.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all software components, including plugins and themes, are regularly updated to the latest versions to address known security vulnerabilities.