CVE-2021-24973 : Security Advisory and Response
Discover the details of CVE-2021-24973 affecting Site Reviews plugin < 5.17.3. Learn about the XSS vulnerability impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
A detailed overview of the CVE-2021-24973 vulnerability in the Site Reviews WordPress plugin.
Understanding CVE-2021-24973
In this section, we will explore what CVE-2021-24973 is and its impact on affected systems.
What is CVE-2021-24973?
The Site Reviews WordPress plugin before version 5.17.3 is vulnerable to unauthenticated stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, enabling malicious users to execute harmful scripts.
The Impact of CVE-2021-24973
This vulnerability allows attackers, including unauthenticated and authenticated users, to conduct XSS attacks on logged-in administrators who view the Tool dashboard of the plugin, posing a serious security risk.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-24973
Delve into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-24973 vulnerability to understand its implications in more detail.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape the site-reviews parameter of the glsr_action AJAX action, leading to XSS exploit opportunities.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects Site Reviews plugin versions prior to 5.17.3, allowing attackers to target websites with these specific versions.
Exploitation Mechanism
By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can inject malicious scripts through the site-reviews parameter, potentially compromising the security of the WordPress site.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn how to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-24973 and prevent similar security incidents in the future.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users of the Site Reviews plugin should update to version 5.17.3 or later to patch the vulnerability and protect their websites from XSS attacks.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement security best practices such as regular plugin updates, user input validation, and monitoring for suspicious activities to enhance overall website security.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security patches and updates released by plugin developers to address known vulnerabilities and maintain a secure WordPress environment.