CVE-2021-24179 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

The Business Directory Plugin < 5.11 for WordPress by Business Directory Team is affected by a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability that allows an attacker to trigger Remote Code Execution (RCE) by importing files as a logged-in administrator without proper validation. This CVE has been identified as CVE-2021-24179.

Understanding CVE-2021-24179

This section will provide insights into the nature and impact of the CVE-2021-24179 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-24179?

The Business Directory Plugin < 5.11 for WordPress had a security flaw that enabled a malicious actor to perform a Cross-Site Request Forgery attack, exploiting the plugin's lack of file validation. This could result in an attacker achieving Remote Code Execution (RCE) on the system.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24179

The vulnerability in the Business Directory Plugin < 5.11 for WordPress poses a significant threat as it allows an unauthorized user to execute arbitrary code on the affected system, leading to potential data breaches, system compromise, and other security risks.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24179

Let's delve deeper into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-24179 to understand the vulnerability better.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Business Directory Plugin < 5.11 for WordPress was caused by a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) issue, which could be exploited to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) due to the lack of file validation in the plugin.

Affected Systems and Versions

The impact of CVE-2021-24179 is limited to Business Directory Plugin versions earlier than 5.11. Organizations using versions prior to 5.11 are at risk of exploitation by threat actors seeking to compromise their systems.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Business Directory Plugin < 5.11 for WordPress, attackers can trick administrators into unknowingly importing malicious files, which, if left unchecked, could lead to Remote Code Execution (RCE) on the target system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems against CVE-2021-24179 requires immediate action and the implementation of robust security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Administrators should update the Business Directory Plugin to version 5.11 or later to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, it is crucial to validate all imported files and review user permissions regularly to prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Ensuring regular security audits, conducting penetration testing, and providing security awareness training to users can enhance the overall security posture of a WordPress environment. Implementing least privilege access and employing web application firewalls are also recommended practices.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates from Business Directory Team and promptly applying patches are essential to protect WordPress installations from known vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-24179.