CVE-2021-36861 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-36861, a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Rich Reviews by Starfish plugin <= 1.9.14 for WordPress allowing attackers to delete reviews. Discover the impact, affected systems, exploitation method, and mitigation steps.
A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability has been discovered in the Rich Reviews by Starfish plugin version <= 1.9.14 for WordPress, allowing attackers to delete reviews.
Understanding CVE-2021-36861
This section will provide insights into the nature of the vulnerability and its impact.
What is CVE-2021-36861?
The CVE-2021-36861 vulnerability refers to a CSRF security flaw in the Rich Reviews by Starfish plugin version <= 1.9.14 for WordPress. It enables malicious actors to delete reviews via unauthorized requests.
The Impact of CVE-2021-36861
With a CVSS base score of 5.4, this medium-severity vulnerability requires user interaction for exploitation. Although it poses a low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, it can still lead to the deletion of reviews.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-36861
Outlined here are the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2021-36861 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows attackers to perform Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks, leading to the deletion of reviews within the Rich Reviews by Starfish plugin.
Affected Systems and Versions
The Rich Reviews by Starfish plugin version <= 1.9.14 for WordPress is affected by this CSRF vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
By crafting malicious requests, attackers can exploit this vulnerability to forge unauthorized actions, such as deleting reviews.
Mitigation and Prevention
In this section, we discuss the immediate steps to take and long-term security practices to mitigate the CVE-2021-36861 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
Website administrators should update the Rich Reviews by Starfish plugin to versions beyond 1.9.14 to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious activities is crucial.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement regular security audits, educate users about CSRF vulnerabilities, and enforce CSRF protection mechanisms to prevent future attacks.
Patching and Updates
Regularly update plugins and software to ensure that security patches are applied promptly, reducing the risk of CSRF vulnerabilities.