CVE-2021-24531 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Charitable – Donation Plugin version 1.6.51 and below in WordPress is susceptible to an authenticated stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the 'add donation' feature.

Understanding CVE-2021-24531

This CVE involves a security flaw in the Charitable – Donation Plugin for WordPress that allows an authenticated attacker to execute cross-site scripting attacks.

What is CVE-2021-24531?

The Charitable – Donation Plugin for WordPress version 1.6.51 and earlier is impacted by an authenticated stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the 'add donation' functionality. This flaw could be exploited by a malicious actor with authenticated access to inject and execute malicious scripts on the plugin's web interface.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24531

This vulnerability could result in an attacker performing various malicious actions such as stealing sensitive user information, executing arbitrary code, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of an authenticated user. It poses a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress site using the vulnerable plugin.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24531

The following technical aspects are associated with CVE-2021-24531:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves an authenticated stored cross-site scripting (XSS) issue in the 'add donation' feature of the Charitable – Donation Plugin for WordPress.

Affected Systems and Versions

Charitable – Donation Plugin versions prior to 1.6.51 are affected by this XSS vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts through the 'add donation' capability, potentially leading to the execution of unauthorized code on the affected WordPress site.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-24531, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Charitable – Donation Plugin to version 1.6.51 or later to eliminate the vulnerability.
Monitor website logs and user activities for any suspicious behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update plugins and themes to the latest versions.
Implement strict access controls to limit administrative privileges.
Educate users about phishing and social engineering tactics.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for the Charitable – Donation Plugin and apply patches promptly to ensure ongoing protection against vulnerabilities.