CVE-2021-24486 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability in Simple Social Media Share Buttons WordPress plugin before 3.2.3 allows low-level users to execute malicious scripts.

Understanding CVE-2021-24486

This CVE identifies a security flaw in the Simple Social Media Share Buttons plugin that could be exploited by users with limited permissions to launch Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

What is CVE-2021-24486?

The Simple Social Media Share Buttons plugin, versions prior to 3.2.3, are prone to Stored Cross-Site Scripting. This vulnerability arises from inadequate escaping of certain parameters.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24486

The vulnerability enables Contributors and higher-privileged users to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code, posing a severe risk of data theft, site defacement, and unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24486

The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize the align and like_button_size parameters within its shortcode, leading to unfiltered execution of malicious scripts.

Vulnerability Description

Simple Social Media Share Buttons plugin, versions before 3.2.3, allows contributors to embed malicious scripts via specific shortcode parameters, exploiting the Stored XSS vulnerability.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected version of the plugin is 3.2.3 and earlier, impacting WordPress sites leveraging this plugin.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with Contributor-level access can craft posts or comments containing the malevolent shortcode parameters, which are then executed when processed by the plugin on the site.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-24486, immediate steps need to be taken to secure WordPress sites utilizing the vulnerable plugin.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Simple Social Media Share Buttons plugin to version 3.2.3 or higher immediately.
Consider limiting user roles and permissions to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and update plugins to ensure known vulnerabilities are patched promptly.
Educate users with elevated permissions on safe content creation practices to prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay vigilant for security updates and patches released by the plugin developer, applying them promptly to safeguard against potential XSS attacks.