CVE-2021-24418 : Security Advisory and Response

A detailed overview of CVE-2021-24418 focusing on the vulnerable Smooth Scroll Page Up/Down Buttons WordPress plugin.

Understanding CVE-2021-24418

This section delves into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies for the CVE.

What is CVE-2021-24418?

The Smooth Scroll Page Up/Down Buttons WordPress plugin version 1.4 and below is vulnerable to an Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack due to improper data sanitization in psb_positioning settings.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24418

The vulnerability allows high privilege users, like admins, to inject malicious XSS payloads into psb_positioning settings, leading to the execution of these payloads on all blog pages.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24418

Explore the specifics of the vulnerability concerning affected systems, exploitation methods, and more.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from the plugin's failure to adequately sanitize and validate user input in the psb_positioning settings, enabling attackers to execute XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Smooth Scroll Page Up/Down Buttons version 1.4 and below are susceptible to this exploit, affecting WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin installed.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the inadequate input validation in psb_positioning settings, threat actors with authorized access can inject and execute harmful XSS payloads across the blog.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to safeguard your WordPress site from CVE-2021-24418 and establish robust security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Smooth Scroll Page Up/Down Buttons plugin to a secure version beyond 1.4.
Monitor for any unauthorized changes in psb_positioning settings.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement consistent security audits, user input validation, and access controls to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and stay informed about plugin vulnerabilities to shield your WordPress instance against emerging threats.