CVE-2021-24993 : Security Advisory and Response

A security vulnerability has been discovered in the Ultimate Product Catalog WordPress plugin before version 5.0.26. This vulnerability allows authenticated users, such as subscribers, to perform unauthorized actions including adding arbitrary products and changing plugin settings.

Understanding CVE-2021-24993

This section will discuss what CVE-2021-24993 entails, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-24993?

The Ultimate Product Catalog WordPress plugin before version 5.0.26 lacks proper authorization and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) checks on certain AJAX actions. This oversight enables authenticated users like subscribers to execute these actions, resulting in unauthorized product additions and settings modifications.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24993

The vulnerability presents a significant security risk as it allows unauthorized users to manipulate product listings and plugin configurations, potentially disrupting the integrity and functionality of the affected WordPress websites.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24993

Let's delve deeper into the technical aspects of this security flaw.

Vulnerability Description

The absence of authorization and CSRF protections in specific AJAX actions of the Ultimate Product Catalog plugin version prior to 5.0.26 permits authenticated subscribers to perform unauthorized tasks, such as adding arbitrary products and altering plugin settings.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects all instances of the Ultimate Product Catalog plugin running versions earlier than 5.0.26.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with authenticated access, like subscriber-level users, can exploit the lack of authorization checks to manipulate the plugin's functionalities and data, compromising the website's security.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting your WordPress site from CVE-2021-24993 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Ultimate Product Catalog plugin to version 5.0.26 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor user permissions and restrict unnecessary access to prevent unauthorized actions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all plugins and themes to their latest versions to address security issues promptly.
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) to monitor and filter malicious traffic targeting AJAX actions.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by the plugin vendor to protect your WordPress site from known vulnerabilities.