CVE-2021-24278 : Security Advisory and Response

The Redirection for Contact Form 7 WordPress plugin before version 2.3.4 is impacted by an unauthenticated arbitrary nonce generation vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2021-24278

This CVE involves an issue in the Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin that allows unauthenticated users to retrieve a valid nonce for any WordPress action or function.

What is CVE-2021-24278?

In the Redirection for Contact Form 7 WordPress plugin before 2.3.4, unauthenticated users can use the wpcf7r_get_nonce AJAX action to retrieve a valid nonce for any WordPress action/function.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24278

This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to perform unauthorized actions and potentially compromise WordPress websites.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24278

This section dives into the specific technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows unauthenticated users to generate valid nonces for any WordPress action, leading to potential unauthorized actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin versions prior to 2.3.4 are affected by this security issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability requires knowledge of the wpcf7r_get_nonce AJAX action to retrieve valid nonces.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2021-24278 involves taking immediate steps and implementing long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update the Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin to version 2.3.4 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Ensure regular plugin updates, conduct security audits, and restrict plugin access to trusted users only.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for plugin updates and apply patches promptly to prevent security risks.