CVE-2021-42365 : What You Need to Know

The Asgaros Forums WordPress plugin version 1.15.13 and below is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting, allowing attackers with administrative user access to inject arbitrary web scripts.

Understanding CVE-2021-42365

This CVE highlights a security issue in the Asgaros Forums WordPress plugin, potentially leading to Stored Cross-Site Scripting.

What is CVE-2021-42365?

The vulnerability arises from insufficient escaping via the name parameter in the admin-structure-table.php file, enabling attackers to execute malicious scripts in affected versions.

The Impact of CVE-2021-42365

CVSS Base Score: 4.8 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: High
Scope: Changed
Users are required to update to version 1.15.14 or newer to mitigate this risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-42365

This section delves into the specifics of the CVE, including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows authenticated users to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks via the name parameter, impacting multi-site installations with specific administrator permissions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Asgaros Forums
Affected Version: 1.15.13 (and below)
Vendor: Asgaros Forums

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with administrative user access can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious web scripts through the name parameter in the admin-structure-table.php file.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems against CVE-2021-42365, immediate actions and long-term security measures are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Asgaros Forums plugin to version 1.15.14 or newer to patch the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update plugins to prevent security gaps.
Limit user privileges to reduce the impact of potential attacks.
Educate users on recognizing and avoiding social engineering tactics.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for plugin updates and apply patches promptly to avoid known vulnerabilities.