CVE-2011-5329 in Redirection plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The redirection plugin before 2.2.9 for WordPress has XSS in the admin menu, a different issue than CVE-2011-4562.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5329 affects the redirection plugin for WordPress versions prior to 2.2.9, specifically targeting the admin menu functionality with a cross-site scripting flaw. This issue represents a distinct security weakness from CVE-2011-4562, which indicates that while both vulnerabilities involve the redirection plugin, they manifest through different attack vectors and code paths. The vulnerability resides within the administrative interface of the WordPress plugin, making it particularly concerning as it targets privileged users who have access to the WordPress admin dashboard.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping within the redirection plugin's admin menu handling code. When administrators navigate through the plugin's administrative interface, maliciously crafted input can be processed without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the administrator's browser session. This occurs because the plugin fails to properly escape or filter user-controllable data before rendering it within the HTML output of the admin menu. The vulnerability specifically affects how the plugin handles menu item parameters, where user-provided values are directly incorporated into HTML elements without appropriate security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for privilege escalation and persistent access to WordPress administrative functions. An attacker who can successfully exploit this XSS vulnerability can execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the administrator's browser, potentially stealing session cookies, modifying plugin settings, or even gaining full administrative control over the WordPress installation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond navigating to the affected admin menu, making it a low-effort, high-impact attack vector. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of insecure input handling in web applications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting malicious input that gets stored or processed by the redirection plugin's admin interface, then executed when administrators view the affected menu. The attack chain often begins with an attacker identifying a WordPress site using the vulnerable redirection plugin, then leveraging the XSS to establish a persistent backdoor or steal administrative credentials. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to version 2.2.9 or later, implementing proper input validation and output escaping throughout the plugin's codebase, and applying additional security measures such as content security policies to limit script execution. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting this specific vulnerability type. This issue demonstrates the importance of proper security testing and input sanitization in plugin development, particularly for administrative interfaces where elevated privileges can lead to severe compromise. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for security-conscious development practices and regular security audits of third-party WordPress plugins to prevent such persistent threats to web application integrity.