CVE-2015-10111 in Watu Quiz Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2023
A vulnerability was found in Watu Quiz Plugin up to 2.6.7 on WordPress. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function watu_exams of the file controllers/exam.php of the component Exam Handler. The manipulation of the argument quiz leads to sql injection. The attack may be initiated remotely. Upgrading to version 2.6.8 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is bf42e7cfd819a3e76cf3e1465697e89f4830590c. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-230651.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10111 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Watu Quiz WordPress plugin version 2.6.7 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the Exam Handler component's function watu_exams located within the controllers/exam.php file, making it a significant target for malicious actors seeking to compromise WordPress installations. The vulnerability specifically occurs when processing the quiz argument, which allows attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which categorizes sql injection as a critical weakness in software applications that handle database operations. The attack vector is remote, meaning that unauthorized users can exploit this flaw without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing environments where the plugin is actively used.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as sql injection attacks can enable full database compromise, allowing attackers to extract sensitive information, modify or delete data, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Watu Quiz plugin, which is commonly used for creating and managing online quizzes and assessments, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to disrupt educational or corporate training platforms. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to user data, quiz results, and potentially other sensitive information stored within the WordPress database. The vulnerability's classification as critical by security vendors indicates the severe risk it poses to system integrity and data confidentiality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center on immediate upgrading to version 2.6.8 or later, which includes the patch identified by the commit hash bf42e7cfd819a3e76cf3e1465697e89f4830590c. This upgrade addresses the sql injection vulnerability by properly sanitizing and validating the quiz argument before processing database queries. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as input validation, parameterized queries, and regular security audits of their WordPress plugins. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving sql injection and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within compromised systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping content management systems and their plugins updated, as outdated components often represent the most common attack surface for web applications. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The patch resolution specifically addresses the root cause by ensuring proper input handling, thereby preventing malicious sql commands from being executed against the underlying database system.