CVE-2021-38342 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article discusses the CVE-2021-38342 vulnerability found in the Nested Pages WordPress plugin version 3.1.15 and earlier, which could be exploited by attackers through Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) to perform various unauthorized actions.

Understanding CVE-2021-38342

This section provides insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to the CVE-2021-38342 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-38342?

The Nested Pages WordPress plugin version 3.1.15 and earlier is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, allowing malicious actors to manipulate posts' status, ownership, and metadata without proper authorization.

The Impact of CVE-2021-38342

The vulnerability can be exploited to conduct actions like trashing or permanently deleting arbitrary posts, changing post status, reassigning ownership, and editing metadata without legitimate user permission.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-38342

This section outlines the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2021-38342 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the

npBulkAction

s and

npBulkEdit

admin_post

actions in the Nested Pages plugin, enabling CSRF attacks to manipulate post data.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Nested Pages plugin versions up to and including 3.1.15, exposing websites to potential unauthorized post modifications.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can employ CSRF techniques to forge requests, tricking authenticated users into unknowingly modifying or deleting posts on the WordPress site.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides guidance on steps to mitigate the CVE-2021-38342 vulnerability and prevent exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should promptly update the Nested Pages plugin to version 3.1.16 or newer to address the CSRF weakness and prevent unauthorized post alterations.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintaining regular plugin updates, implementing post-validation mechanisms, and user awareness on CSRF risks are essential for long-term security.

Patching and Updates

Always stay informed about security patches released by plugin developers and ensure timely application to safeguard against known vulnerabilities.