CVE-2008-0508 in Permalinks Migration Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in deans_permalinks_migration.php in the Dean s Permalinks Migration 1.0 plugin for WordPress allows remote attackers to modify the oldstructure (aka dean_pm_config[oldstructure]) configuration setting as administrators via the old_struct parameter in a deans_permalinks_migration.php action to wp-admin/options-general.php, as demonstrated by placing an XSS sequence in this setting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2017
The CVE-2008-0508 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Dean's Permalinks Migration plugin version 1.0 for WordPress platforms. This vulnerability resides in the deans_permalinks_migration.php file and specifically targets the administrative configuration settings of the WordPress installation. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the oldstructure parameter, which is part of the dean_pm_config[oldstructure] configuration setting, by leveraging a crafted request to the wp-admin/options-general.php endpoint. The vulnerability's exploitation demonstrates a dangerous convergence of CSRF and XSS capabilities, where attackers can not only modify administrative settings but also inject malicious scripts that persist within the configuration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's insufficient validation and authorization checks when processing configuration updates. The old_struct parameter in the deans_permalinks_migration.php action does not properly verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrators. This lack of proper CSRF token validation or request origin verification creates an exploitable pathway where malicious actors can craft specially formatted requests that appear to come from authorized users. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-352 indicates it falls squarely within the category of cross-site request forgery, where the application fails to validate that requests originate from legitimate sources. The configuration setting manipulation occurs through the WordPress administrative interface, specifically targeting the general settings page where plugin configurations are managed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration modification, as it creates a persistent security risk within WordPress installations. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they can inject malicious JavaScript code into the oldstructure configuration setting, which then gets executed whenever the setting is displayed or processed. This creates a server-side XSS vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations using the Dean's Permalinks Migration plugin, where the administrative interface becomes a vector for persistent malicious code execution. The risk is amplified because the configuration changes occur at the administrative level, potentially allowing attackers to modify core WordPress settings that control URL structures and permalinks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0508 require immediate action from WordPress administrators to address the root cause of the vulnerability. The most effective approach involves implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms that validate request authenticity through unique tokens or origin verification checks. Administrators should ensure that all administrative actions require proper authentication tokens that prevent unauthorized requests from modifying system configurations. The vulnerability's exploitation pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as the injected XSS code can execute arbitrary commands within the browser context of administrators. Patching the Dean's Permalinks Migration plugin to version 1.1 or later resolves the vulnerability by implementing proper input validation and CSRF protection measures. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter manipulation attempts, and maintain regular security audits of installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts and ensuring that all WordPress core installations and plugins remain updated with the latest security patches.