CVE-2013-10025 in Exit Strategy Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/08/2023
A vulnerability was found in Exit Strategy Plugin 1.55 and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function exitpageadmin of the file exitpage.php. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. The attack may be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 1.59 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is d964b8e961b2634158719f3328f16eda16ce93ac. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-225266 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-10025 affects the Exit Strategy Plugin version 1.55, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that exposes WordPress installations to unauthorized administrative actions. This vulnerability specifically targets the exitpageadmin function within the exitpage.php file, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the plugin's administrative interface without proper authentication. The issue manifests as a csrf vulnerability that allows attackers to perform unauthorized operations on behalf of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected WordPress site.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-csrf token implementation within the plugin's administrative functions. When users navigate to the affected plugin's admin interface, the exitpageadmin function processes requests without verifying that they originate from legitimate sources within the same site context. This flaw enables attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from legitimate administrative users, exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and its authenticated users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be executed through standard web browser interactions, making it particularly dangerous for WordPress environments where administrators frequently access plugin interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass complete administrative control over affected WordPress installations. Attackers can leverage this csrf flaw to modify plugin settings, potentially redirecting users to malicious sites or altering exit strategies that could lead to phishing attacks. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the target system or local network presence, making the vulnerability particularly severe in environments where WordPress sites are accessible from the public internet. This exposure creates opportunities for widespread compromise across multiple sites running the vulnerable plugin version.
The remediation strategy involves upgrading to version 1.59 of the Exit Strategy Plugin, which incorporates the patch identified by the commit hash d964b8e961b2634158719f3328f16eda16ce93ac. This upgrade addresses the core csrf implementation by introducing proper token validation mechanisms and ensuring that all administrative requests undergo appropriate origin verification. Security practitioners should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as network-level firewall rules that restrict access to plugin administrative interfaces, though the primary defense remains the software upgrade. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of the upgraded plugin to ensure compatibility with existing site configurations and functionality. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and proper authentication mechanisms that should be implemented in all web application interfaces.
The broader implications of this vulnerability demonstrate the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party plugins in WordPress environments. This flaw exemplifies how seemingly minor administrative interface issues can create significant security risks when exploited by threat actors. The vulnerability's classification as remotely exploitable aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers the use of publicly available exploits to gain initial access to target systems. Security teams should implement regular plugin inventory management processes to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their entire WordPress ecosystem, as the presence of outdated plugins creates persistent attack surfaces that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including data exfiltration, site defacement, or establishing persistent access through compromised administrative credentials.