CVE-2021-38316 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2021-38316 on WP Academic People List plugin versions up to 0.4.1. Learn about prevention and immediate uninstallation steps to secure your WordPress site.
A detailed overview of the CVE-2021-38316 vulnerability affecting WP Academic People List plugin.
Understanding CVE-2021-38316
This section will cover what CVE-2021-38316 entails.
What is CVE-2021-38316?
The WP Academic People List WordPress plugin is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting through the category_name parameter in the ~/admin-panel.php file, allowing attackers to insert arbitrary web scripts on affected versions up to and including 0.4.1.
The Impact of CVE-2021-38316
This vulnerability has a medium severity base score of 6.1 under CVSS v3.1, with low impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and privileges required. The plugin's affected versions make it susceptible to exploitation.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-38316
Insights into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-38316.
Vulnerability Description
CVE-2021-38316 involves Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the category_name parameter in the plugin's ~/admin-panel.php file, posing a security risk by allowing unauthorized script injections.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability impacts WP Academic People List plugin versions equal to and below 0.4.1, leaving systems with these versions exposed to potential attacks.
Exploitation Mechanism
To exploit this vulnerability, attackers can manipulate the category_name parameter in the ~/admin-panel.php file to execute malicious code on vulnerable systems.
Mitigation and Prevention
Preventive measures and actions to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-38316.
Immediate Steps to Take
Immediately uninstall the vulnerable WP Academic People List plugin from your WordPress site to eliminate the security risk posed by this vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regular security assessments, timely updates, and adherence to secure coding practices can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Patching and Updates
Keep your WordPress plugins updated and apply patches released by developers to address security vulnerabilities promptly.