CVE-2021-24801 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides insight into the CVE-2021-24801 vulnerability associated with the WP Survey Plus WordPress plugin version 1.0.

Understanding CVE-2021-24801

This section delves into the details of the vulnerability, its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-24801?

The WP Survey Plus WordPress plugin version 1.0 lacks authorization and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) checks in its AJAX actions. This oversight allows any user to manipulate Surveys without proper validation. Moreover, the absence of input sanitization for Survey Titles exposes the plugin to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24801

The vulnerability in WP Survey Plus version 1.0 enables malicious actors to perform unauthorized actions, leading to potential data manipulation and XSS attacks on affected websites.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24801

This section discusses the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2021-24801 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from the lack of authorization and CSRF checks in the plugin's AJAX actions, combined with inadequate input sanitization, paving the way for unauthorized Survey manipulation and XSS exploitation.

Affected Systems and Versions

WP Survey Plus version 1.0 is confirmed to be impacted by this vulnerability, placing websites leveraging this version at risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can leverage the absence of proper authorization and input validation to initiate CSRF attacks and inject malicious scripts via Survey Titles, leading to potential XSS compromises.

Mitigation and Prevention

In light of this vulnerability, it is essential to adopt proactive measures to secure WP Survey Plus installations.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the WP Survey Plus plugin to a patched version that incorporates proper authorization and input validation mechanisms.
Monitor for any unauthorized Survey changes and suspicious activity on the website.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update plugins and software to address security vulnerabilities promptly.
Conduct security audits to identify and remediate potential threats proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by the plugin vendor to ensure the ongoing security of WP Survey Plus installations.