CVE-2021-24651 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The Poll Maker WordPress plugin before version 3.4.2 is vulnerable to an unauthenticated time-based SQL injection. This allows attackers to exploit the ays_finish_poll AJAX action to conduct SQL injection attacks and potentially exfiltrate sensitive data like password hashes.

Understanding CVE-2021-24651

This section covers details about the CVE-2021-24651 vulnerability in the Poll Maker plugin.

What is CVE-2021-24651?

The CVE-2021-24651 vulnerability is a time-based SQL injection flaw in the Poll Maker WordPress plugin versions prior to 3.4.2. This security issue enables unauthenticated malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's functionality to execute SQL injection attacks through a specific AJAX action.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24651

The impact of CVE-2021-24651 is severe as it allows unauthorized individuals to inject malicious SQL queries through the Poll Maker plugin, potentially leading to data leakage or unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the website's database.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24651

In this section, we delve into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-24651 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to inadequate input validation in the Poll Maker WordPress plugin, making it susceptible to SQL injection attacks via the ays_finish_poll AJAX action.

Affected Systems and Versions

Poll Maker versions less than 3.4.2 are impacted by this vulnerability. Websites running versions prior to 3.4.2 are at risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2021-24651 involves sending specially crafted requests to the Poll Maker plugin's ays_finish_poll endpoint. Attackers can inject malicious SQL code through this method to manipulate the database.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2021-24651, immediate actions need to be taken along with long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Poll Maker plugin to version 3.4.2 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability. Disable the plugin if an update is not feasible until a patch is available.

Long-Term Security Practices

Employ best practices such as regular security audits, monitoring for suspicious activities, and educating users on safe plugin usage to enhance overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for the Poll Maker plugin and promptly apply patches to address known vulnerabilities.