CVE-2021-36850 : What You Need to Know

A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability was discovered in the WordPress Media File Renamer – Auto & Manual Rename plugin, affecting versions <= 5.1.9. This vulnerability allows an attacker to manipulate media titles, file names, and locking states.

Understanding CVE-2021-36850

This section will delve into the specifics of the CSRF vulnerability in the WordPress plugin.

What is CVE-2021-36850?

The CVE-2021-36850 vulnerability is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) issue that impacts the WordPress Media File Renamer – Auto & Manual Rename plugin versions up to 5.1.9. The affected parameters include "post_title", "filename", and "lock", enabling unauthorized changes to media files.

The Impact of CVE-2021-36850

The vulnerability poses a medium severity threat, with a CVSS base score of 5.4. It requires user interaction and can result in changes to media file properties, potentially leading to integrity compromises.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-36850

Let's explore the technical aspects related to CVE-2021-36850.

Vulnerability Description

The CSRF vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions on media files, such as altering titles, file names, and locking statuses, by exploiting the affected parameters in the WordPress plugin.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions of the Media File Renamer – Auto & Manual Rename plugin up to 5.1.9 are vulnerable to this CSRF flaw, impacting websites that utilize these specific plugin versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves manipulating the "post_title", "filename", and "lock" parameters through specially crafted requests to achieve unauthorized changes to media files within the plugin.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are some key steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-36850.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is crucial to update the plugin to version 5.2.0 or higher to patch the CSRF vulnerability and protect the media files from unauthorized modifications.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement security best practices such as regular plugin updates, monitoring for suspicious activities, and employing additional security measures to safeguard against CSRF attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates released by the plugin vendor and promptly apply patches to ensure that your website is protected against known vulnerabilities.