CVE-2021-24855 : What You Need to Know

This article provides details about CVE-2021-24855, a vulnerability found in the Display Post Metadata WordPress plugin before version 1.5.0 that allows for stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Understanding CVE-2021-24855

This section delves into the nature of the CVE-2021-24855 vulnerability and its impact on affected systems.

What is CVE-2021-24855?

The Display Post Metadata WordPress plugin before version 1.5.0 introduces a shortcode to display custom fields without proper sanitization or escaping, enabling users with low-level roles like Contributor to execute Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24855

This vulnerability allows malicious users to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a site visitor's session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24855

Explore the specific technical aspects of CVE-2021-24855 to better understand the affected systems and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the lack of sanitization or escaping of custom fields that permits unprivileged users to insert malicious scripts, posing a severe XSS risk to websites.

Affected Systems and Versions

CVE-2021-24855 impacts Display Post Metadata versions prior to 1.5.0, making websites using this plugin susceptible to stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the lack of input validation in the plugin, attackers can craft specially-crafted payloads within custom fields to execute arbitrary code in the browser of an unsuspecting site visitor.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover how to safeguard your systems against CVE-2021-24855 and reduce the risk of exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators are advised to update the Display Post Metadata plugin to version 1.5.0 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability and protect against Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation and output escaping mechanisms across all user inputs to prevent XSS threats and enhance overall web security posture.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitor for security updates and apply patches promptly to ensure that your WordPress plugins, including Display Post Metadata, are up-to-date and secure.