CVE-2021-29476 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides essential information about CVE-2021-29476, a critical vulnerability related to insecure deserialization of untrusted data in Requests library for WordPress.

Understanding CVE-2021-29476

CVE-2021-29476 is a security vulnerability that affects the Requests HTTP library in WordPress due to mishandling of deserialization in FilteredIterator.

What is CVE-2021-29476?

CVE-2021-29476 involves insecure deserialization of untrusted data in the Requests library in WordPress, potentially leading to high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29476

The vulnerability has a base severity score of 9.8, indicating a critical risk level. Attackers can exploit this issue to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29476

The following technical details outline the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.

Vulnerability Description

Requests library in WordPress mishandles deserialization in FilteredIterator, allowing attackers to execute malicious code and potentially gain unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Requests versions >= 1.6.0 and < 1.8.0 in WordPress installations. Users of these versions are recommended to update to version 1.8.0 immediately.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by triggering the mishandled deserialization in FilteredIterator, leading to unauthorized data access and potentially remote code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-29476, it is crucial to take immediate action and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Requests library to version 1.8.0 to address the vulnerability and protect the system from potential exploitation.
Monitor network traffic and system logs for any suspicious activities that could indicate a security breach.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly apply security patches and updates to all software components to address known vulnerabilities and enhance overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories related to Requests library in WordPress and promptly apply patches provided by the vendor to secure the system against emerging threats.