CVE-2021-24251 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing Directories for WordPress WordPress plugin before 5.11.2 suffered from a Cross-Site Request Forgery issue, allowing an attacker to make a logged-in administrator update arbitrary payment history, such as change their status (from pending to completed to example).

Understanding CVE-2021-24251

This CVE refers to a vulnerability found in the Business Directory Plugin < 5.11.2 for WordPress, which could be exploited by attackers to manipulate payment history.

What is CVE-2021-24251?

The CVE-2021-24251 vulnerability involves a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) issue in the Business Directory Plugin < 5.11.2 for WordPress, enabling unauthorized modifications to payment records by attackers.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24251

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized updates in payment history, potentially affecting financial records and transaction statuses within the WordPress plugin.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24251

The following technical details outline the vulnerability further:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit a CSRF issue to alter payment records within the Business Directory Plugin < 5.11.2.

Affected Systems and Versions

Business Directory Plugin < 5.11.2 for WordPress is affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the CSRF flaw to forge requests and manipulate payment history, impacting financial data.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-24251 and enhance security measures, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Business Directory Plugin to version 5.11.2 or newer to patch the CSRF vulnerability.
Monitor payment history and verify transaction statuses regularly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement CSRF tokens and security mechanisms to prevent CSRF attacks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update and maintain all plugins and software to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.