CVE-2021-24744 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

WordPress Contact Forms by Cimatti plugin before 1.4.12 is vulnerable to a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack due to unsanitized user input. This could allow high privilege users to execute malicious scripts, posing a security risk.

Understanding CVE-2021-24744

This CVE identifies a security flaw in the WordPress Contact Forms by Cimatti plugin version prior to 1.4.12, exposing websites to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

What is CVE-2021-24744?

The vulnerability in the WordPress Contact Forms by Cimatti plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts through unsanitized user input, leading to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24744

High privilege users can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, potentially compromising sensitive data and user information on affected websites.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24744

The technical details of the CVE-2021-24744 vulnerability include:

Vulnerability Description

The plugin fails to sanitize and escape the Form Title before displaying it on certain admin pages, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

WordPress Contact Forms by Cimatti plugin versions earlier than 1.4.12 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with high privileges can exploit this vulnerability to perform Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, even when unfiltered_html is disabled.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-24744, users and administrators should take the following actions:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the WordPress Contact Forms by Cimatti plugin to version 1.4.12 or later.
Monitor for any suspicious activity on the website, especially within form titles.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all plugins and themes to their latest versions.
Implement content security policies (CSP) to reduce the impact of XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Plugin developers have released version 1.4.12, which addresses the vulnerability. It is crucial to update the plugin to the latest version to safeguard websites against potential XSS attacks.