CVE-2021-24196 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The Social Slider Widget WordPress plugin before 1.8.5 is vulnerable to Authenticated Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) due to unsanitized user-controlled input.

Understanding CVE-2021-24196

This CVE highlights a security issue in the Social Slider Widget plugin that allows authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts via the 'token_error' parameter.

What is CVE-2021-24196?

The CVE-2021-24196 vulnerability pertains to an Authenticated Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) flaw in the Social Slider Widget plugin version prior to 1.8.5.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24196

The impact of this vulnerability is that authenticated attackers can inject and execute arbitrary scripts within the plugin settings page, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24196

This section provides more insight into the nature of the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the 'token_error' parameter, which is under user control and not properly sanitized before being reflected back to the user, allowing for XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Social Slider Widget versions prior to 1.8.5 are affected by this XSS vulnerability, exposing websites with the plugin installed to potential exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with authenticated access can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the 'token_error' parameter to inject and execute malicious scripts within the plugin settings.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-24196 and prevent exploitation, users and administrators should take the following steps.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Social Slider Widget plugin to version 1.8.5 or later to eliminate the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor plugin updates and apply security patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and output encoding practices to sanitize user input and prevent XSS attacks.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and address security weaknesses proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories related to WordPress plugins and ensure timely installation of updates and patches to safeguard your website against known vulnerabilities.