I Found a $500k WordPress RCE Using GPT5.6 for Just $25
Exploit brokers pay $500k for WordPress RCEs. I found one with GPT5.6 and $25
I discovered a critical pre-authentication remote code execution vulnerability in WordPress using the new GPT5.6 Sol Ultra model for only $25. By adapting a mathematical prompt to run multi-agent security research, the AI identified a SQL injection flaw and chained it to full system access. While exploit brokers pay half a million dollars for such bugs, my automated discovery process cost a fraction of that, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in cybersecurity.
"I hadn't seen anyone in the security community talk about it at all, but I thought that if this prompt was good enough to solve hard mathematical problems, it was probably good enough for security research too."
HN discussion
- Intelligence agencies primarily purchase browser and mobile RCEs for reliable access vectors, showing little interest in WordPress exploits unless used for watering hole attacks.
- WordPress remains a high-value target for ransomware and data theft due to its 41% market share, with attackers leveraging it to manipulate prediction markets or exfiltrate customer data from WooCommerce sites.
- Critics argue that WordPress's security failures stem from the project's refusal to adopt modern PHP features like PDO and prepared statements, which have been available for over two decades.
- The $500k valuation for a WordPress RCE is likely inflated marketing, as underground exploit prices typically range from $200 to $50k, with supply from AI-generated tools potentially driving costs down further.
- Real-world incidents confirm that attackers deploy persistent backdoors in WordPress plugin directories to execute remote commands while disguising the software version to evade patch detection.