CVE-2021-24187 in SEO Redirection Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2021
The setting page of the SEO Redirection Plugin – 301 Redirect Manager WordPress plugin through 6.3 is vulnerable to reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) as user input is not properly sanitised before being output in an attribute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2021
The CVE-2021-24187 vulnerability affects the SEO Redirection Plugin version 6.3 and earlier, specifically within its settings page interface. This issue represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting flaw that arises from inadequate input sanitization practices. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web page output without proper validation or encoding, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the browser of unsuspecting users.
The technical flaw occurs in the plugin's handling of user input within the 301 Redirect Manager's administrative interface. When administrators or users interact with the settings page, the plugin fails to sanitize or escape data that is subsequently rendered in HTML attributes. This creates a reflected XSS condition where an attacker can craft a malicious URL containing script payloads that will execute in the context of a victim's browser when the page is loaded. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the WordPress administrative environment where users typically have elevated privileges and access to sensitive configuration data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify plugin settings, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject persistent malware into the affected WordPress installation. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack requires user interaction with a specially crafted URL, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or when users are tricked into visiting compromised administrative interfaces.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 which covers exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications through reflected XSS attacks. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of the SEO Redirection Plugin to version 6.4 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes, along with monitoring for suspicious administrative activities, remain essential practices for maintaining secure WordPress environments and preventing exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack.