CVE-2021-24715 : What You Need to Know

The WP Sitemap Page WordPress plugin before 1.7.0 is affected by a vulnerability that could allow high privilege users to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks. Here's what you need to know about CVE-2021-24715.

Understanding CVE-2021-24715

This CVE impacts the WP Sitemap Page plugin version less than 1.7.0, potentially enabling Admin+ Stored Cross Site Scripting attacks.

What is CVE-2021-24715?

The WP Sitemap Page plugin version less than 1.7.0 is susceptible to Cross-Site Scripting attacks due to improper sanitization and escaping of settings, even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24715

This vulnerability could be exploited by high privilege users to execute malicious scripts on affected websites, leading to unauthorized actions, data theft, or complete compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24715

The following details outline the specific technical aspects of CVE-2021-24715.

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in how the WP Sitemap Page plugin handles and sanitizes user settings, allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

WP Sitemap Page plugin versions below 1.7.0 are impacted by this vulnerability, potentially exposing websites to Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can inject malicious scripts into user settings, which are improperly sanitized, leading to unauthorized script execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your website from CVE-2021-24715 with the following mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update WP Sitemap Page plugin to version 1.7.0 or higher to patch the vulnerability.
Review user permissions and restrict the unfiltered_html capability to prevent unauthorized script execution.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all plugins and themes to their latest versions to ensure enhanced security.
Conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and CVE alerts related to your WordPress plugins to apply timely patches and updates.