CVE-2021-24765 : What You Need to Know

The Perfect Survey WordPress plugin through 1.5.2 is vulnerable to an Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting issue due to improper validation of the X-Forwarded-For header value.

Understanding CVE-2021-24765

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in the Perfect Survey plugin that can be exploited to execute malicious scripts on the plugin's statistic page.

What is CVE-2021-24765?

The vulnerability in Perfect Survey plugin allows an attacker to inject and store malicious scripts via the X-Forwarded-For header, potentially impacting the security of the WordPress site.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24765

Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access, data theft, and the execution of arbitrary code on the affected WordPress site, compromising its integrity and confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24765

The following details provide a deeper insight into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Perfect Survey plugin arises from the lack of validation and sanitization of the X-Forwarded-For header, enabling malicious actors to inject and execute scripts on the site.

Affected Systems and Versions

All installations of Perfect Survey plugin prior to version 1.5.2 are affected by this vulnerability, leaving them exposed to the risk of stored cross-site scripting attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the insecure handling of the X-Forwarded-For header, threat actors can craft and submit malicious inputs that get stored and executed in the context of the Perfect Survey plugin, allowing for unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2021-24765 requires immediate action and the implementation of security best practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Perfect Survey plugin to the latest version (1.5.2) to patch the vulnerability and prevent exploitation.
Enable the 'Anonymize IP' setting within the plugin to mitigate the risk of stored cross-site scripting.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit plugins for security vulnerabilities, ensuring prompt updates and patches are applied.
Educate users and administrators on safe WordPress practices to prevent the introduction of security risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories related to WordPress plugins, apply updates promptly, and conduct thorough testing to verify the effectiveness of the patches on your environment.