CVE-2021-36871 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

WordPress WP Google Maps Pro premium plugin <= 8.1.11 is impacted by multiple Authenticated Persistent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

Understanding CVE-2021-36871

This section provides an overview of the CVE-2021-36871 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-36871?

CVE-2021-36871 refers to multiple Authenticated Persistent XSS vulnerabilities in WordPress WP Google Maps Pro premium plugin (versions <= 8.1.11). The specific parameters that are vulnerable include &wpgmaps_marker_category_name, &attributes[], &icons[], &names[], &description, &link, and &title.

The Impact of CVE-2021-36871

The impact of these vulnerabilities is rated as MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 5.5. Attackers with high privileges can exploit these vulnerabilities to execute malicious scripts in the context of the affected website leading to potential data theft or website defacement.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-36871

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-36871 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into specific parameters of the WordPress WP Google Maps Pro premium plugin, potentially affecting the integrity and confidentiality of the website.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects versions of WP Google Maps Pro plugin up to and including 8.1.11.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with high privileges can exploit these vulnerabilities by injecting malicious scripts into vulnerable parameters of the plugin, impacting the security and functionality of the affected website.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss the steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-36871.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their WP Google Maps Pro plugin to version 8.1.12 as this version contains fixes for the identified vulnerabilities.

Long-Term Security Practices

It is recommended to regularly update software and plugins to the latest versions, implement least privilege access controls, and conduct security assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by the plugin vendor to ensure timely installation of fixes and prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.