CVE-2021-24955 : What You Need to Know

This article provides detailed insights into CVE-2021-24955, a vulnerability found in the ProfilePress WordPress plugin versions before 3.2.3, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting issue.

Understanding CVE-2021-24955

CVE-2021-24955 is a security vulnerability identified in the ProfilePress WordPress plugin, impacting versions earlier than 3.2.3. The issue arises due to the mishandling of the data parameter in specific AJAX actions.

What is CVE-2021-24955?

The User Registration, Login Form, User Profile & Membership WordPress plugin before version 3.2.3 fails to properly escape the data parameter of the pp_get_forms_by_builder_type AJAX action. This improper handling results in a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24955

The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, leading to potential unauthorized access, data theft, and other malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24955

The following technical aspects outline the CVE-2021-24955 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from the plugin's failure to sanitize user-supplied data before reflecting it back, enabling attackers to execute scripts in the context of an unsuspecting user's browser.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: User Registration, Login Form, User Profile & Membership – ProfilePress (Formerly WP User Avatar)
Vendor: Unknown
Affected Version: < 3.2.3

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting this vulnerability, malicious actors can craft URLs containing specially crafted payloads that execute when a user interacts with the vulnerable component.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2021-24955, immediate actions and long-term security practices are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the ProfilePress plugin to version 3.2.3 or later immediately.
Consider disabling the affected plugin until the update is applied.
Educate users on recognizing and avoiding suspicious URLs.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all installed WordPress plugins and themes.
Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate XSS vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the official sources for plugin updates and patches to address the CVE-2021-24955 vulnerability.