CVE-2021-36870 : What You Need to Know

A detailed overview of Multiple Authenticated Persistent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities found in the WordPress WP Google Maps plugin versions <= 8.1.12.

Understanding CVE-2021-36870

This section delves into the impact, technical details, mitigation, and prevention of the CVE-2021-36870 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-36870?

CVE-2021-36870 identifies Multiple Authenticated Persistent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in WordPress WP Google Maps plugin versions <= 8.1.12, affecting parameters like &dataset_name, &wpgmza_gdpr_retention_purpose, &wpgmza_gdpr_company_name, &name, &polyname, and &address.

The Impact of CVE-2021-36870

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 5.5. It requires high privilege access and can lead to low confidentiality and integrity impacts.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-36870

This section covers the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS flaws in the WP Google Maps plugin versions <= 8.1.12 allow authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts through various parameters, potentially leading to further attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects WP Google Maps plugin versions <= 8.1.12.

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious actors with high privileges can exploit the XSS vulnerabilities by injecting harmful scripts into specific parameters.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn about immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and patching recommendations to safeguard your systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the WP Google Maps plugin to version 8.1.13 to mitigate the XSS vulnerabilities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Ensure regular security audits, implement web application firewalls, and educate users to prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay vigilant for security advisories, promptly apply patches, and keep plugins up to date to address emerging vulnerabilities.