CVE-2021-24245 : What You Need to Know

The Stop Spammers WordPress plugin before version 2021.9 is impacted by a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability due to insufficient user input sanitization.

Understanding CVE-2021-24245

This CVE identifies a security issue in the Stop Spammers plugin versions prior to 2021.9, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's browser.

What is CVE-2021-24245?

The vulnerability stems from unescaped user input in blocking requests, leading to the execution of XSS attacks when unfiltered content is rendered in an attribute.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24245

Exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to inject and execute arbitrary scripts, potentially compromising user data or performing unauthorized actions on the affected WordPress site.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24245

This section provides further insights into the vulnerability details, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in an attribute, opening pathways for malicious scripts to execute in the client's browser.

Affected Systems and Versions

Stop Spammers plugin versions earlier than 2021.9 are confirmed to be impacted by this XSS vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By crafting a specific request with malicious content, threat actors can trigger the XSS flaw and execute unauthorized scripts within the browser environment.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect WordPress sites from CVE-2021-24245, immediate actions and long-term security measures should be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Stop Spammers plugin to version 2021.9 or later to mitigate the XSS vulnerability.
Monitor for any suspicious activities or unauthorized script executions on the website.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly scan and audit WordPress plugins for security issues and vulnerabilities.
Educate users and administrators about XSS attacks and other common web security threats.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by plugin developers, and promptly apply them to safeguard your WordPress environment.