CVE-2021-39356 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2021-39356 involves a vulnerability in the Content Staging WordPress plugin, allowing stored cross-site scripting by attackers with administrative user access.

Understanding CVE-2021-39356

This CVE affects Content Staging version 2.0.1 and below, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts on affected sites.

What is CVE-2021-39356?

The vulnerability in the Content Staging plugin leads to stored cross-site scripting due to inadequate input validation and escaping in the settings.php file.

The Impact of CVE-2021-39356

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 5.5 (Medium severity), potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary scripts.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-39356

Content Staging <= 2.0.1 Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting

Vulnerability Description

Insufficient input validation and escaping in the settings.php file allow attackers with admin access to inject web scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Content Staging
Vendor: Content Staging
Versions Affected: up to and including 2.0.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: High
Scope: Changed
User Interaction: None

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate action is crucial to secure affected systems against this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Uninstall the Content Staging WordPress plugin from the affected site.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and monitor WordPress plugins and themes.
Enforce principle of least privilege for user roles.
Implement web application firewalls.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about plugin updates and security advisories to apply patches promptly.