CVE-2021-24766 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2021-24766 article provides insights into a security vulnerability in the 404 to 301 – Redirect, Log and Notify 404 Errors WordPress plugin before version 3.0.9. The lack of CSRF check allows an attacker to manipulate logged admin activities.

Understanding CVE-2021-24766

This section dives deeper into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2021-24766.

What is CVE-2021-24766?

The vulnerability in the 404 to 301 – Redirect, Log and Notify 404 Errors WordPress plugin version less than 3.0.9 lacks a crucial CSRF check during log cleaning, enabling malicious actors to trick logged-in admins into unintentionally deleting all logs via CSRF attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24766

The security flaw could result in unauthorized deletion of crucial logs by attackers posing as authenticated administrators, potentially leading to severe data loss and manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24766

Explore the specific technical aspects of CVE-2021-24766 to better understand its implications and execution.

Vulnerability Description

The absence of CSRF protection in the WordPress plugin allows for the deletion of logs by attackers through forged CSRF requests, compromising the integrity and security of the log data stored by the plugin.

Affected Systems and Versions

The CVE impacts versions of the 404 to 301 – Redirect, Log and Notify 404 Errors WordPress plugin prior to 3.0.9, and users of these versions are at risk of falling victim to CSRF-based log manipulation attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves crafting CSRF requests to force authenticated admins to unknowingly execute log deletion commands, thereby tampering with the stored log data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the essential steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-24766 and safeguard your systems against potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should promptly update the vulnerable plugin to version 3.0.9 or later to patch the CSRF vulnerability and prevent unauthorized log deletions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security measures, such as regularly monitoring and auditing logs, enforcing secure coding practices, and educating users about CSRF risks, can enhance the overall security posture of WordPress installations.

Patching and Updates

Stay vigilant for security patches and updates released by the plugin vendor to address known vulnerabilities promptly and ensure the continuous protection of your WordPress website.