CVE-2021-24829 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article provides insights into CVE-2021-24829, a vulnerability found in the Visitor Traffic Real Time Statistics WordPress plugin version less than 3.9.

Understanding CVE-2021-24829

This CVE pertains to an SQL injection vulnerability in the Visitor Traffic Real Time Statistics plugin before version 3.9, allowing authenticated users to execute malicious SQL statements.

What is CVE-2021-24829?

The CVE-2021-24829 vulnerability arises from the plugin's lack of validation and escaping of user input before executing SQL queries in the today_traffic_index AJAX action, leading to potential SQL injection attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24829

Exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate the database, extract sensitive information, modify data, or even execute arbitrary code by injecting malicious SQL commands.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24829

This section highlights specific technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows authenticated users to inject malicious SQL queries due to inadequate input validation in the today_traffic_index AJAX action.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Visitor Traffic Real Time Statistics plugin versions below 3.9 are vulnerable to this exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with authenticated access can abuse the SQL injection flaw in the plugin by crafting malicious input to execute arbitrary SQL commands.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from the CVE-2021-24829 vulnerability, certain preventive measures should be taken.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should update the Visitor Traffic Real Time Statistics plugin to version 3.9 or newer to mitigate the SQL injection risk.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation mechanisms and thorough security audits for WordPress plugins to prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security patches and updates for WordPress plugins to address known vulnerabilities and enhance overall system security.