CVE-2021-24450 : What You Need to Know

A detailed overview of the ProfilePress WordPress plugin vulnerability allowing authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Understanding CVE-2021-24450

This CVE identifier refers to an Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability found in the User Registration, User Profiles, Login & Membership – ProfilePress WordPress plugin versions prior to 3.1.8.

What is CVE-2021-24450?

The vulnerability in ProfilePress plugin allowed high-privilege users to insert JavaScript payloads in settings, potentially leading to a Stored Cross-Site Scripting issue.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24450

The vulnerability posed a threat by enabling attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a privileged user account, potentially compromising the security and integrity of the WordPress site.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24450

This section provides deeper insights into the vulnerability's specifics.

Vulnerability Description

ProfilePress WordPress plugin versions < 3.1.8 failed to properly sanitize user settings, allowing admin users to insert JavaScript payloads, leading to a Stored XSS risk.

Affected Systems and Versions

The CVE-2021-24450 vulnerability impacts ProfilePress plugin versions before 3.1.8.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with high-level access could leverage the unfiltered_html capability to inject malicious JavaScript code through the plugin's settings.

Mitigation and Prevention

Explore the following strategies to safeguard systems against CVE-2021-24450.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the ProfilePress plugin to version 3.1.8 or newer immediately.
Restrict admin privileges to trusted individuals to minimize the impact of potential XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for plugin updates and security advisories to patch vulnerabilities promptly.
Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block malicious scripts.

Patching and Updates

Ensure continuous monitoring and updating of plugins, themes, and the WordPress core to mitigate the risk of known vulnerabilities.