CVE-2021-24289 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2021-24289, an authenticated privilege escalation vulnerability in Store Locator Plus for WordPress plugin versions up to 5.5.14. Find out the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
A detailed overview of CVE-2021-24289, a security vulnerability in the Store Locator Plus for WordPress plugin.
Understanding CVE-2021-24289
This section will cover the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2021-24289.
What is CVE-2021-24289?
CVE-2021-24289 is an authenticated privilege escalation vulnerability found in the Store Locator Plus for WordPress plugin versions up to 5.5.14. This flaw allowed authenticated users to elevate their privileges to become administrators on any website utilizing the plugin.
The Impact of CVE-2021-24289
The vulnerability posed a significant security risk as attackers could exploit it to gain unauthorized administrative access to websites using the vulnerable versions of the plugin.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-24289
In this section, we will delve into the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2021-24289 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw stemmed from insecure user meta data handling in the Store Locator Plus for WordPress plugin, enabling authenticated users to manipulate their data to achieve admin privileges.
Affected Systems and Versions
Store Locator Plus for WordPress versions including and below 5.5.14 were impacted by this privilege escalation issue.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers with authenticated access could exploit this vulnerability by modifying their user meta data, allowing them to escalate their privileges to that of an administrator.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section offers guidance on steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-24289 and prevent such vulnerabilities in the future.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users of the Store Locator Plus for WordPress plugin should update to a patched version beyond 5.5.14 to prevent exploitation of this privilege escalation flaw.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing strong access controls, regular security audits, and monitoring user privilege changes can help mitigate similar risks in the long term.
Patching and Updates
Regularly updating plugins, themes, and core software is crucial to staying protected against known security vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-24289.