CVE-2019-15835 in wp-better-permalinks Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The wp-better-permalinks plugin before 3.0.5 for WordPress has CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2023
The wp-better-permalinks plugin for WordPress contains a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects versions prior to 3.0.5. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's administrative interface where it fails to implement proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with access to the WordPress admin panel to execute unauthorized actions through maliciously crafted requests that leverage the victim's authenticated session. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's configuration and permalink management functionalities where user inputs are processed without adequate validation of request origins or authenticity tokens.
The technical implementation of this CSRF flaw stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens in the plugin's administrative forms and endpoints. When administrators interact with the plugin's settings or perform permalink modifications, the requests lack the necessary cryptographic tokens that would verify the request originated from the legitimate administrative interface rather than from a malicious third party. This absence of CSRF protection creates a vector where an attacker could craft a malicious webpage containing hidden form submissions or javascript requests that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, would execute unintended actions within the context of the administrator's session. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the WordPress administrative interface where the plugin's configuration options are managed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it allows attackers to manipulate permalink structures and potentially disrupt website functionality. An attacker could modify permalink settings to redirect traffic to malicious domains, alter URL structures to confuse users, or even leverage the permalink manipulation to create persistent backdoors within the website's navigation structure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges to exploit - only access to the WordPress admin panel is needed, which could be gained through credential compromise, social engineering, or other initial access vectors. The impact is amplified when considering that permalink modifications can affect SEO, site navigation, and user experience in ways that may not be immediately apparent to administrators.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the wp-better-permalinks plugin to version 3.0.5 or later where anti-CSRF tokens have been implemented. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as role-based access controls to limit administrative access, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring of administrative activities for suspicious permalink modifications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers Valid Accounts and T1546 which covers Event Triggered Execution. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious administrative requests, and maintain comprehensive backup strategies to quickly restore functionality if malicious changes occur. The remediation process should include verification that all plugin installations have been updated and that no legacy versions remain in the WordPress environment to prevent future exploitation attempts.