CVE-2021-24716 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The Modern Events Calendar Lite WordPress plugin before version 5.22.3 is susceptible to an Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability that allows users with access to adjust settings within wp-admin to manipulate values improperly. This can result in a security risk for websites utilizing this plugin.

Understanding CVE-2021-24716

This section will delve into the details of the CVE-2021-24716 vulnerability, its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-24716?

The CVE-2021-24716 vulnerability arises in the Modern Events Calendar Lite WordPress plugin before version 5.22.3 due to inadequate sanitization of user input within the wp-admin settings, enabling authenticated users to inject malicious scripts, leading to potential XSS attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24716

The impact of CVE-2021-24716 is significant as it allows attackers with authorized access to wp-admin to execute arbitrary scripts, potentially compromising user data, defacing websites, or performing other malicious activities through cross-site scripting.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24716

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems, versions, and the exploitation mechanism associated with CVE-2021-24716.

Vulnerability Description

The Modern Events Calendar Lite plugin version < 5.22.3 fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied data, facilitating authenticated stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks due to improper handling of input values in the wp-admin settings.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Modern Events Calendar Lite plugin versions prior to 5.22.3, permitting authorized users to introduce malicious scripts through settings manipulation within the wp-admin interface.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting CVE-2021-24716, attackers with authorized access in wp-admin can inject malicious scripts, leading to persistent XSS attacks on websites utilizing the vulnerable Modern Events Calendar Lite plugin.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section covers immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the significance of patching and updates to safeguard against CVE-2021-24716.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should update the Modern Events Calendar Lite plugin to version 5.22.3 or newer immediately to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, monitor user permissions and regularly audit settings to prevent unauthorized script injections.

Long-Term Security Practices

Incorporate strict input validation mechanisms, security plugins, and conduct regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities proactively within WordPress plugins and themes.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update plugins, themes, and the WordPress core to the latest versions to ensure security patches are applied promptly and protect against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-24716.