WordPress security changelog
MEDIUM CVE-2021-24545 Modified

WP HTML Author Bio: Cross-site scripting

WP HTML Author Bio is affected by cross-site scripting. Exposure depends on how the affected operation is made reachable by the site. Injected script can execute in the affected site's origin when the vulnerable output is viewed.

CVE / CNA score 5.4 CVSS · contact@wpscan.com
NVD score 5.4 CVSS 3.1 · nvd@nist.gov
Component
WP HTML Author Bio
Plugin slug
wp-html-author-bio
Affected
See vendor advisory
Safe version
See mitigation notes
Published
Oct 11, 2021
Weakness
CWE-79 — Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

This CVE was published Oct 11, 2021 and is one of 1 known issue for this plugin.

Update, patch or deactivate.

Update WP HTML Author Bio to a release outside the affected range, or disable and remove it until a fixed version is available.

No confirmed safe version is listed. Consider a vendor-supported patch or temporarily restricting the affected functionality while you assess the risk.

Deactivate only when warranted by your risk profile, or when advised by your hosting provider in the limited circumstances where the vulnerability cannot otherwise be mitigated. If you’re unsure which action is appropriate, contact Fused or your hosting provider for guidance.

Technical description

The WP HTML Author Bio WordPress plugin through 1.2.0 does not sanitise the HTML allowed in the Bio of users, allowing them to use malicious JavaScript code, which will be executed when anyone visit a post in the frontend made by such user. As a result, user with a role as low as author could perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks against users, which could potentially lead to privilege escalation when an admin view the related post/s.

NVD vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Primary and upstream sources