CVE-2021-24953 : Security Advisory and Response

This article provides details about CVE-2021-24953, a vulnerability in the Advanced iFrame WordPress plugin that allows for Reflected Cross-Site Scripting due to unsanitized user input.

Understanding CVE-2021-24953

CVE-2021-24953, also known as the Advanced iFrame < 2022 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting, is a security flaw in the Advanced iFrame WordPress plugin that can be exploited for XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2021-24953?

The vulnerability arises from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape the 'ai_config_id' parameter before displaying it on an admin page, enabling malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a victim's browser.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24953

Exploiting this vulnerability can result in an attacker executing malicious scripts in the user's browser, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information, cookie theft, session hijacking, or other forms of client-side attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24953

The following technical aspects of CVE-2021-24953 provide insight into the vulnerability's specifics, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the Advanced iFrame WordPress plugin before 2022 allows an attacker to conduct Reflected Cross-Site Scripting attacks by injecting malicious scripts through the 'ai_config_id' parameter.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects versions of the Advanced iFrame plugin prior to 2022, making websites using these versions susceptible to XSS attacks leveraging unsanitized user input.

Exploitation Mechanism

By crafting a malicious link or URL containing a specially crafted 'ai_config_id' parameter, threat actors can trick users into visiting a page that executes the injected script in the victim's browser.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing CVE-2021-24953 requires immediate action to protect systems and users from potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should update the Advanced iFrame plugin to version 2022 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, input validation and output encoding should be implemented to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security audits, code reviews, and security training for developers can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in plugins and ensure secure coding practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates for all WordPress plugins used in your environment. Promptly apply patches released by plugin vendors to address known security issues and enhance the overall security posture.