CVE-2021-24286 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A detailed overview of CVE-2021-24286, a vulnerability in the Redirect 404 to Parent WordPress plugin before version 1.3.1 that could lead to a reflected Cross-Site Scripting issue.

Understanding CVE-2021-24286

This section provides insights into the nature of the vulnerability and its potential impact.

What is CVE-2021-24286?

The Redirect 404 to Parent WordPress plugin before version 1.3.1 failed to adequately sanitize the tab parameter, resulting in a reflected Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24286

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to inject malicious scripts into the target website, potentially leading to unauthorized access or other malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24286

Explore the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2021-24286 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper sanitization of the tab parameter in the settings page of the Redirect 404 to Parent plugin, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects versions of the Redirect 404 to Parent WordPress plugin prior to version 1.3.1.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting and submitting malicious HTTP requests containing specially crafted parameters to trigger the XSS issue.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-24286 and safeguard your WordPress website.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website owners should update the Redirect 404 to Parent plugin to version 1.3.1 or higher to address this security flaw.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement security best practices, such as input validation and output encoding, to prevent XSS vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitor for security updates and apply the latest patches to all WordPress plugins to stay protected against known vulnerabilities.