CVE-2021-24745 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2021-24745 affecting About Author Box WordPress plugin < 1.0.2, enabling Cross-Site Scripting attacks by low-privileged users. Find mitigation steps and security best practices.
The About Author Box WordPress plugin before version 1.0.2 is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks due to lack of sanitization in the Social Profiles field.
Understanding CVE-2021-24745
This CVE affects the About Author Box plugin for WordPress, allowing users with roles as low as contributors to execute XSS attacks.
What is CVE-2021-24745?
The About Author Box plugin version less than 1.0.2 fails to properly sanitize and escape the Social Profiles field values, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts.
The Impact of CVE-2021-24745
This vulnerability could be exploited by users with limited access rights to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks, leading to unauthorized actions on the affected website.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-24745
This section covers the detailed technical aspects of the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from the plugin's failure to sanitize user input in the Social Profiles field, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts that get executed in the context of the victim's browser.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects versions of the About Author Box plugin prior to 1.0.2.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers with the role of a contributor or higher can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into the Social Profiles field, leading to the execution of unauthorized code on the target site.
Mitigation and Prevention
To safeguard your system from CVE-2021-24745, follow these mitigation steps.
Immediate Steps to Take
Update the About Author Box plugin to version 1.0.2 or later to fix the vulnerability. Additionally, review and sanitize all user inputs to prevent XSS attacks.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly update your WordPress plugins and themes to ensure you have the latest security patches. Educate users on secure coding practices and implement security mechanisms to mitigate XSS vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins and deploy patches promptly to secure your website against potential threats.