CVE-2023-6197 in Audio Merchant
Summary
by MITRE • 11/20/2023
The Audio Merchant plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 5.0.4. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the audio_merchant_save_settings function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to modify the plugin's settings and inject malicious web scripts via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The Audio Merchant plugin for WordPress represents a significant security vulnerability through its implementation of cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms. This weakness affects all versions up to and including 5.0.4, creating a persistent risk for WordPress installations that utilize this plugin. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper nonce validation within the audio_merchant_save_settings function, which serves as a critical security control for authenticating administrative actions. Without this essential protection, the plugin fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions, opening the door for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to implement proper cryptographic token validation for administrative operations. Nonces, or numbers used once, represent a fundamental security pattern in web applications designed to prevent unauthorized actions from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. In this case, the audio_merchant_save_settings function lacks the necessary nonce verification checks that would ensure any modification requests are properly authenticated. This absence allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system, bypassing the standard authentication mechanisms that should protect administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it provides attackers with the capability to inject malicious web scripts into the plugin's settings. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited to compromise the entire WordPress installation. The vulnerability requires only that an attacker can trick an administrator into clicking a malicious link or visiting a compromised webpage, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently browse external sites. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior access to the system is required, significantly lowering the barrier to exploitation.
The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and persistence techniques, specifically targeting the web application layer where administrative functions are exposed. This weakness can be categorized under CWE-352, Cross-Site Request Forgery, which represents a well-documented vulnerability pattern in web applications. The attack vector becomes particularly concerning when considering that WordPress administrators often have elevated privileges and access to sensitive system configurations. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors through the injection of malicious scripts.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that implement proper nonce validation, as this represents the most effective solution to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for suspicious administrative activities, and educating administrators about the dangers of clicking untrusted links. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense, while regular security scanning should be employed to identify other potential vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem. The implementation of proper input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase would also help prevent similar issues in future development cycles, aligning with industry standards for secure web application development.