CVE-2008-2068 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in WordPress 2.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2068 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within WordPress version 2.5, classified under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This security weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied input within the WordPress core codebase, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be injected through unspecified vectors.
WordPress 2.5, released in 2008, was widely adopted by content management system users across various industries and organizations. The XSS vulnerability in this version stems from the platform's failure to adequately filter and escape user input before rendering it in web pages. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious scripts or HTML code that would be executed when other users viewed affected pages or interacted with the WordPress interface. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the application could be compromised, including but not limited to comment forms, user profile fields, or administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2068 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially full administrative control over affected WordPress installations. When exploited, this vulnerability allows threat actors to hijack user sessions, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malware into the browsing environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given WordPress's widespread adoption, meaning that successful exploitation could affect thousands of websites simultaneously. Security professionals categorize this vulnerability under the ATT&CK framework as part of the T1566 technique for initial access through malicious content, with potential lateral movement capabilities through session hijacking.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2068 require immediate action including the urgent upgrade to WordPress version 2.5.1 or later, which contained the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms, including the use of Content Security Policy headers, proper HTML escaping of user-generated content, and regular security audits of web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while conducting regular security training for users to recognize potential phishing attempts that might leverage such vulnerabilities.