CVE-2008-5113 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
WordPress 2.6.3 relies on the REQUEST superglobal array in certain dangerous situations, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct delayed and persistent cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks via crafted cookies, as demonstrated by attacks that (1) delete user accounts or (2) cause a denial of service (loss of application access). NOTE: this issue relies on the presence of an independent vulnerability that allows cookie injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5113 represents a critical security flaw in WordPress version 2.6.3 that exploits improper handling of the REQUEST superglobal array in web applications. This weakness creates a dangerous scenario where remote attackers can manipulate application behavior through crafted cookie values, fundamentally undermining the security model of the content management system. The vulnerability specifically targets the CSRF protection mechanisms that WordPress implements to prevent unauthorized actions from being executed on behalf of authenticated users, creating a pathway for persistent and delayed attacks that can have severe operational consequences.
The technical flaw stems from WordPress's reliance on the REQUEST superglobal array in situations where more secure alternatives should be employed. When the application processes user requests, it incorrectly uses the REQUEST array which includes data from both GET, POST, and COOKIE parameters, rather than implementing proper input validation and sanitization. This approach creates an attack surface where malicious actors can inject crafted cookie values that bypass normal CSRF protection checks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to perform operations that would normally require explicit user consent or authentication, effectively enabling unauthorized actions such as account deletion or service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5113 extends beyond simple exploitation to encompass persistent and delayed attack capabilities that can compromise entire WordPress installations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute account deletion attacks that remove user credentials and access permissions, effectively locking legitimate users out of their own applications. Additionally, the vulnerability enables denial of service conditions that can result in complete loss of application access, rendering the WordPress site unusable and potentially causing significant business disruption. The delayed nature of these attacks means that the impact may not be immediately apparent, allowing attackers to maintain persistent access and continue their operations without detection.
The vulnerability's effectiveness relies on the presence of an independent vulnerability that enables cookie injection, creating a two-pronged attack vector that amplifies the overall threat. This dependency on additional weaknesses highlights the importance of comprehensive security assessments that consider the interaction between multiple vulnerabilities. According to CWE standards, this issue relates to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and the improper use of superglobal arrays represents a common pattern that falls under CWE-20, or Improper Input Validation. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK techniques that involve credential access and privilege escalation, particularly through the use of cookies as attack vectors and manipulation of application state.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5113 require immediate attention through WordPress version updates to the latest stable releases that address the core CSRF protection flaws. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization techniques that avoid reliance on the REQUEST superglobal array for critical operations, instead using dedicated arrays or explicitly validated inputs. Security measures should include cookie security enhancements such as secure flags and HttpOnly attributes to prevent unauthorized cookie manipulation. Additionally, network monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous cookie patterns and unauthorized account modifications. The implementation of proper CSRF tokens that are generated per session and validated against user requests provides the most effective protection against these types of attacks, ensuring that each operation requires explicit validation rather than relying on potentially compromised cookie values.