CVE-2021-4362 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A critical vulnerability has been identified in the Kiwi Social Sharing Plugin for WordPress, allowing unauthenticated attackers to potentially take over WordPress sites. This CVE has a base score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity level.

Understanding CVE-2021-4362

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2021-4362, outlining the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-4362?

The Kiwi Social Sharing Plugin for WordPress version 2.1.0 is prone to an authorization bypass vulnerability due to a missing capability check, which enables unauthenticated attackers to read and modify arbitrary options on a WordPress site.

The Impact of CVE-2021-4362

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to potentially take over WordPress sites by exploiting the authorization bypass flaw in the plugin.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-4362

Let's take a closer look at the technical aspects of CVE-2021-4362 to understand how this vulnerability can be exploited.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability resides in the kiwi_social_share_get_option() function called via the kiwi_social_share_get_option AJAX action in version 2.1.0 of the Kiwi Social Sharing Plugin for WordPress. This reintroduced vulnerability enables attackers to bypass authorization and gain unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected system is the Social Sharing Plugin – Kiwi version 2.1.0, with versions less than or equal to 2.1.2 being vulnerable to this exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the missing capability check in the kiwi_social_share_get_option() function to read and modify arbitrary options, potentially leading to a complete site takeover.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-4362. Here are some recommended actions to enhance the security of WordPress sites.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Kiwi Social Sharing Plugin to the latest secure version immediately.
Monitor WordPress sites for any unauthorized access or modifications.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and update plugins to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement least privilege access controls to restrict unauthorized actions.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by plugin developers. Apply patches promptly to ensure the security of WordPress sites.