CVE-2021-24785 : What You Need to Know

A critical vulnerability, CVE-2021-24785, has been discovered in the Great Quotes WordPress plugin version 1.0.0 and below. This vulnerability could allow high privilege users to execute Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, even when unfiltered HTML is disallowed.

Understanding CVE-2021-24785

This section will provide insights into the nature of the CVE-2021-24785 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-24785?

The Great Quotes WordPress plugin version 1.0.0 and earlier fails to properly sanitize and escape the Quote and Author fields in its Quotes. This oversight creates an opportunity for high privilege users to launch XSS attacks, compromising the security of the platform.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24785

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's content, leading to unauthorized access, data theft, and potential site defacement.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24785

In this section, we delve deeper into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-24785 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper sanitization and escaping of user inputs in the Quote and Author fields. This oversight enables attackers to embed malicious scripts within the plugin's content.

Affected Systems and Versions

Great Quotes plugin versions up to and including 1.0.0 are affected by this vulnerability. Websites utilizing these versions are at risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with high privilege levels can exploit this vulnerability by inserting crafted scripts into Quote and Author fields, which get executed when the content is viewed by a user.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard your system from CVE-2021-24785, effective mitigation strategies need to be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Administrators should update the Great Quotes plugin to the latest version to ensure the vulnerability is patched. Implement strict input validation to prevent unauthorized scripts from being executed.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security updates and conduct security audits to detect and address vulnerabilities promptly. Educate users about safe content creation practices to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security releases for the Great Quotes plugin and promptly apply patches to eliminate known vulnerabilities.