CVE-2021-24924 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A detailed overview of CVE-2021-24924, a vulnerability in the Email Log WordPress plugin before version 2.4.8 that leads to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting issue.

Understanding CVE-2021-24924

This section provides insights into the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-24924?

The Email Log WordPress plugin before version 2.4.8 is prone to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting issue due to improper handling of input parameters, potentially leading to script execution in a user's browser.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24924

The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's Log page, which can then be executed in the context of an unsuspecting user's session, leading to various attacks such as session hijacking and data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24924

Explore the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The Email Log plugin before version 2.4.8 fails to properly sanitize the 'd' parameter before displaying it on the Log page, enabling attackers to craft URLs with malicious scripts that get executed in users' browsers.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Email Log versions prior to 2.4.8, leaving websites using these versions exposed to potential cross-site scripting attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this issue by enticing victims to click on specially crafted links containing malicious payloads, triggering the execution of unauthorized scripts within the affected user's browsing session.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to address the CVE-2021-24924 vulnerability to enhance the security of your WordPress websites.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should update the Email Log plugin to version 2.4.8 or later to mitigate the security risk posed by the Reflected Cross-Site Scripting issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement best practices for secure coding, input validation, and output encoding to prevent XSS vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins and themes.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for plugin updates and security patches, and apply them promptly to safeguard your website against known vulnerabilities.