CVE-2021-24860 : What You Need to Know

A SQL injection vulnerability has been discovered in the BSK PDF Manager WordPress plugin before version 3.1.2, allowing attackers to execute malicious SQL statements.

Understanding CVE-2021-24860

This CVE involves the BSK PDF Manager WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 3.1.2, which fails to properly validate and escape orderby and order parameters before using them in SQL queries.

What is CVE-2021-24860?

The CVE-2021-24860 vulnerability is a result of inadequate input validation in the BSK PDF Manager WordPress plugin, enabling attackers to inject malicious SQL code through the orderby and order parameters.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24860

Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow threat actors to manipulate the SQL database, compromise sensitive data, and potentially take control of the affected WordPress site.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24860

The following technical details outline the vulnerability found in the BSK PDF Manager plugin:

Vulnerability Description

The SQL injection vulnerability in BSK PDF Manager before 3.1.2 arises due to the lack of proper validation and escaping of user-supplied data for SQL queries.

Affected Systems and Versions

Only versions of BSK PDF Manager prior to 3.1.2 are impacted by this vulnerability, with version 3.1.2 being the fixed version.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting specially crafted SQL statements through the orderby and order parameters in the affected plugin.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard against CVE-2021-24860 and similar vulnerabilities, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the BSK PDF Manager plugin to version 3.1.2 or later to eliminate the SQL injection issue.
Regularly monitor for security updates and apply patches promptly to protect against known vulnerabilities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and data sanitization practices in WordPress plugins to prevent SQL injection attacks.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing on WordPress installations to identify and remediate security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories related to WordPress plugins and promptly apply patches released by plugin vendors to address security issues and protect your website from exploitation.