CVE-2025-23640 in Rename Author Slug Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2025
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Nazmul Ahsan Rename Author Slug allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Rename Author Slug: from n/a through 1.2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
The CVE-2025-23640 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Nazmul Ahsan Rename Author Slug WordPress plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through 1.2.0. This vulnerability demonstrates a dangerous convergence of cross-site request forgery and stored cross-site scripting flaws that creates a particularly severe threat vector for WordPress installations. The issue arises from inadequate input validation and proper security controls within the plugin's administrative interface, creating an environment where malicious actors can exploit the CSRF weakness to inject persistent malicious scripts into the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input within its author slug modification functionality. When administrators interact with the plugin's administrative features, the system does not adequately verify the authenticity of requests through proper CSRF token validation mechanisms. This allows attackers to craft malicious requests that, when executed by authenticated administrators, can store persistent XSS payloads within the plugin's data handling processes. The vulnerability operates through a classic CSRF attack pattern where an attacker lures an administrator to click on a malicious link or visit a compromised website, which then silently submits requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoint.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers within the WordPress environment. Once exploited, the stored XSS payload can execute in the context of the administrator's browser session, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, access sensitive administrative functions, or even install additional malware. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the plugin's author slug management system, which is commonly used for content management and user identification within WordPress installations. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where any administrator who visits a compromised page or clicks on malicious links could inadvertently trigger the execution of attacker-controlled scripts.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-79, which covers Cross-Site Scripting. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through web application vulnerabilities, specifically mapping to T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. Organizations running WordPress installations with this vulnerable plugin face significant risk of unauthorized access, data compromise, and potential full system takeover, especially in environments where administrators regularly browse untrusted websites or interact with potentially compromised content.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF token validation issues and proper input sanitization. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as role-based access controls, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for unusual administrative activities. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other instances of similar flaws within their WordPress installations and establish regular patch management protocols to maintain security posture against evolving threats.