CVE-2021-24735 in Compact WP Audio Player Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/18/2021
The Compact WP Audio Player WordPress plugin before 1.9.7 does not implement nonce checks, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin change the "Disable Simultaneous Play" setting via a CSRF attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2021
The Compact WP Audio Player WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2021-24735 represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress administrative functions. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 1.9.7 and specifically targets the absence of nonce validation mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interface. Nonce checks serve as a fundamental security measure in WordPress to verify that administrative actions originate from legitimate sources and are not forged by malicious actors. Without these protective measures, the plugin fails to validate the authenticity of requests made to modify its configuration settings.
The technical flaw manifests as a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers to manipulate the plugin's "Disable Simultaneous Play" setting through maliciously crafted requests. This setting controls whether multiple audio players can operate simultaneously on a single webpage, making it a potentially impactful configuration parameter for site administrators. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking logged-in administrators into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links that automatically submit requests to modify the plugin settings. The absence of nonce validation means that any authenticated user session can be leveraged to execute unauthorized administrative actions, effectively bypassing WordPress's built-in security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it represents a significant vector for privilege escalation and potential system compromise. When an administrator clicks on a malicious link or visits a compromised website, their authenticated session can be exploited to modify critical audio player behavior, potentially disrupting site functionality or creating opportunities for further attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) weaknesses in software applications. The attack pattern follows typical CSRF methodologies described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1548.003 for Abuse of Functionality, where attackers leverage legitimate administrative capabilities to perform unauthorized actions.
The implications of this vulnerability become particularly concerning when considering the broader WordPress ecosystem and typical administrative workflows. Administrators often maintain persistent sessions while browsing multiple websites, making them susceptible to session hijacking through CSRF attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical gap in the plugin's security implementation, where the absence of proper input validation and authentication checks creates an exploitable attack surface. Organizations using affected versions of the Compact WP Audio Player plugin face significant risk of unauthorized configuration changes that could compromise site performance, user experience, and potentially provide attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges or establish persistent access. The recommended mitigation involves immediate upgrading to version 1.9.7 or later, which implements proper nonce validation and addresses the CSRF vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement additional security measures such as regular security audits, monitoring of administrative actions, and ensuring all WordPress plugins maintain current security standards to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising system integrity.