CVE-2019-13478 : Security Advisory and Response

Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress version before 11.6-RC5 has a vulnerability that allows the unrestricted use of HTML in term descriptions.

Understanding CVE-2019-13478

This CVE involves a security issue in the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress that could lead to critical consequences.

What is CVE-2019-13478?

The Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress version before 11.6-RC5 fails to adequately restrict the usage of unfiltered HTML in term descriptions, posing a security risk.

The Impact of CVE-2019-13478

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 9.9, indicating a critical severity level with high impacts on confidentiality and integrity, and low privileges required for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-13478

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress version before 11.6-RC5 does not effectively limit the use of unfiltered HTML in term descriptions, potentially allowing malicious actors to execute harmful actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress
Affected Version: Before 11.6-RC5

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely with a low attack complexity, requiring no user interaction, and resulting in a change of scope.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Yoast SEO plugin to version 11.6-RC5 or newer.
Monitor for any suspicious activities on WordPress sites.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update plugins and themes to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement security best practices to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates to mitigate the risk of exploitation.