📄 Description (English)
The AI ChatBot with ChatGPT and Content Generator by AYS plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access and modification of data due to missing capability checks on the store_data() and get_chatgpt_api_key() functions in all versions up to, and including, 2.7.5. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to view, modify or delete the plugin's ChatGPT API key.
The vulnerability was partially fixed in version 2.7.5 and fully fixed in version 2.7.6
🤖 AI Executive Summary
The AI ChatBot with ChatGPT and Content Generator by AYS WordPress plugin (versions ≤2.7.5) contains a critical authorization bypass vulnerability allowing unauthenticated attackers to access, modify, or delete stored ChatGPT API keys. This vulnerability exposes sensitive API credentials and enables unauthorized use of AI services at organizational expense. While a partial fix exists in v2.7.5 and full fix in v2.7.6, the medium CVSS score (5.3) underestimates the actual risk due to credential exposure and potential lateral movement opportunities.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 30, 2026 02:18
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations using this WordPress plugin face significant risks across multiple sectors: (1) Government agencies and digital transformation initiatives may expose API credentials used for content generation and citizen services; (2) Banking and financial services using AI chatbots for customer service risk credential theft and unauthorized API usage charges; (3) Healthcare providers implementing AI-powered patient communication systems could expose sensitive API keys; (4) Telecommunications and media companies leveraging AI content generation face service disruption and credential compromise; (5) E-commerce and retail sectors using chatbots for customer engagement risk financial fraud through unauthorized API consumption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 digital transformation initiatives and increased adoption of AI-powered customer service solutions.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare and Medical Services
Telecommunications
E-commerce and Retail
Media and Content Publishing
Education and Universities
Energy and Utilities
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1078 - Valid Accounts (unauthenticated access exploitation)
T1087 - Account Discovery (API key enumeration)
T1110 - Brute Force (potential credential stuffing)
T1555 - Credentials from Password Stores (API key theft)
T1589 - Gather Victim Identity Information (credential exposure)
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application (WordPress plugin exploitation)
T1199 - Trusted Relationship (compromised API credentials for lateral movement)
T1021 - Remote Services (unauthorized API usage)
T1040 - Network Sniffing (API key interception potential)
T1566 - Phishing (credential-based attacks post-compromise)
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all WordPress installations using AI ChatBot with ChatGPT and Content Generator by AYS plugin
2. Check plugin version: if ≤2.7.5, treat as compromised
3. Immediately rotate all ChatGPT API keys associated with affected installations
4. Review ChatGPT API usage logs for unauthorized access or unusual activity
5. Check WordPress user accounts for unauthorized additions or privilege escalations
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Update plugin to version 2.7.6 or later immediately
2. If update not available, disable the plugin until patch is released
3. Test update in staging environment before production deployment
4. Verify capability checks are properly enforced post-update
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block unauthenticated requests to store_data() and get_chatgpt_api_key() functions
2. Restrict WordPress REST API access to authenticated users only
3. Implement IP whitelisting for API key access
4. Enable WordPress security plugins with capability checking (e.g., Wordfence, Sucuri)
5. Monitor and log all API key access attempts
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor WordPress logs for unauthenticated POST/GET requests to /wp-json/ays-chatgpt/v1/store_data or /wp-json/ays-chatgpt/v1/get_chatgpt_api_key
2. Alert on any modification of ChatGPT API keys without authenticated user action
3. Track unusual ChatGPT API usage patterns or geographic anomalies
4. Monitor for plugin version downgrades or disabling of security plugins
5. Implement SIEM rules to detect multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful unauthenticated API calls
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع تثبيتات WordPress التي تستخدم مكون AI ChatBot مع ChatGPT و Content Generator من AYS
2. التحقق من إصدار المكون: إذا كان ≤2.7.5، اعتبره مخترقاً
3. تدوير جميع مفاتيح API الخاصة بـ ChatGPT المرتبطة بالتثبيتات المتأثرة فوراً
4. مراجعة سجلات استخدام ChatGPT API للوصول غير المصرح أو النشاط غير العادي
5. التحقق من حسابات مستخدمي WordPress للإضافات غير المصرحة أو تصعيد الامتيازات
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. تحديث المكون إلى الإصدار 2.7.6 أو أحدث فوراً
2. إذا لم يكن التحديث متاحاً، قم بتعطيل المكون حتى يتم إصدار التصحيح
3. اختبر التحديث في بيئة التطوير قبل نشره في الإنتاج
4. تحقق من أن فحوصات الصلاحيات مفروضة بشكل صحيح بعد التحديث
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تنفيذ قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) لحجب الطلبات غير المصرحة إلى وظائف store_data() و get_chatgpt_api_key()
2. تقييد وصول WordPress REST API للمستخدمين المصرحين فقط
3. تنفيذ قائمة بيضاء للعناوين IP لوصول مفتاح API
4. تفعيل مكونات أمان WordPress مع فحص الصلاحيات (مثل Wordfence و Sucuri)
5. مراقبة وتسجيل جميع محاولات الوصول إلى مفتاح API
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة سجلات WordPress للطلبات غير المصرحة POST/GET إلى /wp-json/ays-chatgpt/v1/store_data أو /wp-json/ays-chatgpt/v1/get_chatgpt_api_key
2. التنبيه على أي تعديل لمفاتيح API الخاصة بـ ChatGPT بدون إجراء مستخدم مصرح
3. تتبع أنماط استخدام ChatGPT API غير العادية أو الشذوذ الجغرافي
4. مراقبة تخفيض إصدار المكون أو تعطيل مكونات الأمان
5. تنفيذ قواعد SIEM للكشف عن محاولات مصادقة متعددة فاشلة متبوعة بنجاح استدعاءات API غير مصرحة
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Access Control Policies (missing capability checks)
ECC 2024 A.5.2.1 - User Registration and Access Management (unauthenticated access)
ECC 2024 A.5.3.1 - Management of Privileged Access Rights (authorization bypass)
ECC 2024 A.8.2.1 - User Access Management (inadequate access controls)
ECC 2024 A.12.4.1 - Event Logging (insufficient logging of API key access)
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-1 - Asset Management (uncontrolled API credential exposure)
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Access Control (missing authentication/authorization checks)
SAMA CSF PR.AC-3 - Access Enforcement (capability checks not implemented)
SAMA CSF DE.AE-1 - Anomalies and Events (inadequate monitoring of API access)
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1 - Detection Processes (insufficient logging mechanisms)
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.2 - Information Security Policies (access control policy gaps)
ISO 27001:2022 A.6.2 - Internal Organization (inadequate role-based access control)
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2 - Asset Management (uncontrolled credential exposure)
ISO 27001:2022 A.9.1 - Access Control (missing authentication mechanisms)
ISO 27001:2022 A.9.2 - User Access Management (authorization bypass vulnerability)
ISO 27001:2022 A.12.4 - Logging (insufficient audit trails for API access)
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 1.1 - Firewall Configuration Standards (inadequate access controls)
PCI DSS 2.1 - Default Passwords and Security Parameters (API key exposure)
PCI DSS 6.5.1 - Injection Flaws (authorization bypass)
PCI DSS 7.1 - Access Control (missing capability checks)
PCI DSS 10.2 - User Access Logging (insufficient logging of API key access)
🔗 References & Sources 3
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https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/ays-chatgpt-assistant/tags/2.7.4/admin/class...
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/ays-chatgpt-assistant/tags/2.7.4/includes/ch...
security@wordfence.com
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/53b3d441-4938-435f-85c3-70747...
security@wordfence.com