CVE-2019-20181 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A security vulnerability has been identified in the popular WordPress plugin, awesome-support version 5.8.0, allowing for cross-site scripting attacks.

Understanding CVE-2019-20181

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the awesome-support plugin for WordPress that enables XSS attacks through the post_title parameter.

What is CVE-2019-20181?

The awesome-support plugin version 5.8.0 for WordPress is susceptible to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks due to inadequate input validation.

The Impact of CVE-2019-20181

This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's browser, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-20181

The technical aspects of this CVE include:

Vulnerability Description

The awesome-support plugin 5.8.0 for WordPress allows XSS attacks via the post_title parameter.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: WordPress plugin awesome-support
Version: 5.8.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into the post_title parameter, which are then executed when the affected page is viewed.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-20181, users should take the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the awesome-support plugin to a patched version that addresses the XSS vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for plugin updates and security advisories.
Implement input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all plugins, including awesome-support, are kept up to date with the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of known vulnerabilities.