CVE-2021-24377 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Autoptimize < 2.7.8 - Race Condition leading to RCE

Understanding CVE-2021-24377

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Autoptimize WordPress plugin version before 2.7.8. It allows a race condition to occur between extracting a file and removing it, potentially leading to Remote Code Execution (RCE) attacks.

What is CVE-2021-24377?

The Autoptimize WordPress plugin before version 2.7.8 fails to adequately protect against RCE due to a race condition that can be exploited during the upload of an archive via the 'Import Settings' feature.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24377

The vulnerability may allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected WordPress sites, leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or further compromise of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24377

This section provides more insight into the vulnerability's description, affected systems, and how it can be exploited.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises due to improper synchronization in shared resource handling, enabling attackers to manipulate the extraction and removal process of uploaded files, potentially leading to RCE attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Autoptimize versions prior to 2.7.8 are impacted by this vulnerability, making websites that use these versions susceptible to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the race condition between the file extraction and removal processes, threat actors can upload a malicious archive to trigger the RCE vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting your system from CVE-2021-24377 involves taking immediate steps and adopting long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators are advised to update the Autoptimize plugin to version 2.7.8 or newer immediately to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, regularly updating plugins, monitoring file uploads, and conducting security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for the Autoptimize plugin and promptly apply patches released by the vendor to address known vulnerabilities.