CVE-2014-2598 in Quick Page Post Redirect
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Quick Page/Post Redirect plugin before 5.0.5 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the quickppr_redirects[request][] parameter in the redirect-updates page to wp-admin/admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2024
The CVE-2014-2598 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the Quick Page/Post Redirect WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 5.0.5. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of CSRF and XSS attack vectors, creating a particularly dangerous exploitation scenario for malicious actors targeting WordPress administrators. The flaw exists within the plugin's administrative interface, specifically in the redirect-updates page located at wp-admin/admin.php, where the quickppr_redirects[request][] parameter becomes a conduit for unauthorized administrative actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user-supplied input within the plugin's administrative handling mechanism. When administrators access the redirect-updates page, the plugin fails to properly verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrative sessions. This absence of proper CSRF protection tokens or session validation allows remote attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from authenticated administrator sessions. The vulnerability specifically targets the quickppr_redirects[request][] parameter, which serves as an entry point for manipulating redirect configurations while simultaneously enabling XSS execution through the same parameter manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a pathway for sophisticated attack chains that can lead to complete administrative compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the context of administrator sessions, potentially gaining full control over the WordPress installation. The combination of CSRF and XSS capabilities means that attackers can not only hijack administrative sessions but also inject malicious scripts that persist within the target environment, creating long-term access vectors. This dual nature of the vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and persistence domains.
The security implications of CVE-2014-2598 demonstrate a classic weakness in web application security where authentication validation is insufficiently enforced during administrative operations. The vulnerability exposes a fundamental flaw in the plugin's security architecture, specifically the lack of proper request origin verification and the absence of anti-CSRF mechanisms that should be mandatory for any administrative interface. This weakness directly correlates with CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a vulnerability that occurs when a web application does not properly validate the source of requests. Organizations running vulnerable versions of this plugin face significant risk of unauthorized administrative access, data manipulation, and potential complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 5.0.5 or later, where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been properly implemented. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring of administrative interfaces for suspicious activities, and implementation of web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious parameter manipulation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of keeping WordPress plugins updated and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring practices, as this flaw could be exploited by automated scanning tools that target known vulnerabilities in popular plugins. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers and session management controls to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts.