CVE-2024-10268 in MP3 Audio Player Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
The MP3 Audio Player – Music Player, Podcast Player & Radio by Sonaar plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's sonaar_audioplayer shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 5.8 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-10268 affects the MP3 Audio Player plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions 5.8 and earlier. This plugin, known as Sonnar Audio Player, is widely used for audio playback functionality within WordPress environments. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's sonaar_audioplayer shortcode implementation. Security researchers have identified that this flaw allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher to exploit the system through stored cross-site scripting attacks.
The technical flaw resides in how the plugin processes user-supplied attributes within the sonaar_audioplayer shortcode. When administrators or contributors create or edit content using this shortcode, they can inject malicious JavaScript code through parameters such as audio source URLs, playlist configurations, or other attribute fields. The plugin fails to properly sanitize these inputs before storing them in the database, creating a persistent XSS vulnerability. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because the malicious scripts are saved in the database and executed whenever any user accesses pages containing the compromised shortcode, regardless of their permission level. This behavior aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a common web application vulnerability where untrusted data is executed as code in the victim's browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised WordPress environment. An attacker with contributor privileges can inject scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of logged-in users. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only contributor-level access, which is often granted to trusted users within WordPress installations. This means that even users who are not administrators can potentially compromise the entire site. The vulnerability enables attackers to create persistent backdoors, modify content, or escalate privileges through the injected scripts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1566 for credential access through phishing or malicious content delivery.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-10268 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 5.9 or later, where the XSS vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper input sanitization and output escaping. Organizations should implement strict user access controls, limiting contributor privileges to only essential functions and monitoring user activities for suspicious shortcode modifications. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting contributor-level access to plugin configuration areas. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits of WordPress installations can help detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor for malicious script injections and maintain detailed logging of shortcode usage to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in content management systems where user-generated content is processed and stored.