CVE-2021-24941 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The Icegram WordPress plugin before version 2.0.5 is affected by a reflected Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts.

Understanding CVE-2021-24941

This CVE identifies a security flaw in the Icegram plugin for WordPress, version 2.0.5 and below.

What is CVE-2021-24941?

The vulnerability in the Icegram plugin occurs due to improper sanitization of user-supplied data, specifically the 'message_id' parameter, before returning it, leading to a Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability (CWE-79).

The Impact of CVE-2021-24941

This vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's output, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or further attacks on users visiting the affected website.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24941

The technical details of the CVE including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper sanitization and escaping of the 'message_id' parameter in the Icegram WordPress plugin, version 2.0.5 and earlier, which enables the execution of arbitrary scripts by malicious actors.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Icegram plugin versions prior to 2.0.5 are impacted by this Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating the 'message_id' parameter in the get_message_action_row AJAX action, an attacker can inject malicious scripts that will be executed when the output is rendered in the browser.

Mitigation and Prevention

Measures to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-24941.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators are advised to update the Icegram plugin to version 2.0.5 or later to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, input validation and output sanitization practices should be enforced to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitoring and updating plugins, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting security audits can enhance the overall security posture of websites.

Patching and Updates

Developers should prioritize security in plugin development, ensuring proper data sanitization and input validation to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.