CVE-2021-24293 : Security Advisory and Response

This article delves into the details of CVE-2021-24293, a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the NextGEN Gallery Pro WordPress plugin before version 3.1.11.

Understanding CVE-2021-24293

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of the vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-24293?

The CVE-2021-24293 vulnerability exists in the eCommerce module of the NextGEN Gallery Pro plugin, allowing malicious JavaScript injection through the 'settings[shipping_address][name]' parameter.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24293

The vulnerability can be exploited to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of the user's browser, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24293

In this section, we explore the specific technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS flaw in NextGEN Gallery Pro plugin before 3.1.11 stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data, enabling attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects NextGEN Gallery Pro versions prior to 3.1.11, making websites using these versions susceptible to XSS attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2021-24293 involves manipulating the 'settings[shipping_address][name]' parameter to inject and execute malicious JavaScript code within the affected WordPress plugin.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the necessary steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-24293.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately updating the NextGEN Gallery Pro plugin to version 3.1.11 or later is crucial to prevent potential XSS attacks leveraging this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, input validation, and output encoding can help enhance the overall security posture of WordPress plugins and mitigate XSS risks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring plugin updates and promptly applying security patches released by plugin vendors can minimize the exposure to known vulnerabilities.