CVE-2019-9575 in Quiz and Survey Master Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The Quiz And Survey Master plugin 6.0.4 for WordPress allows wp-admin/admin.php?page=mlw_quiz_results quiz_id XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9575 affects the Quiz And Survey Master plugin version 6.0.4 for WordPress, representing a cross-site scripting flaw that specifically targets the quiz results page functionality. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the plugin's administrative interface, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the web application. The vulnerability manifests when users navigate to the wp-admin/admin.php?page=mlw_quiz_results endpoint with a specifically crafted quiz_id parameter, allowing attackers to execute unauthorized scripts in the context of authenticated admin sessions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. This represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability categorized under CWE-79, which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary weakness. The flaw occurs because the plugin directly reflects user-provided quiz_id values without appropriate HTML escaping or context-specific encoding, enabling attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the browser of any user who views the affected page. The vulnerability specifically impacts the administrative dashboard functionality where quiz results are displayed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users with administrative privileges or through social engineering techniques targeting privileged accounts.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9575 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised WordPress environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can hijack administrator sessions, steal sensitive data, modify quiz configurations, or even escalate privileges to gain full control over the WordPress installation. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal effort as it only requires crafting a malicious URL with a specific quiz_id parameter, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin. Additionally, the vulnerability can be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or data exfiltration through the compromised administrative interface.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. Immediate remediation involves upgrading the Quiz And Survey Master plugin to version 6.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent the XSS exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities within the administrative interface, though this should not be relied upon as the sole defense mechanism. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or custom code within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through web shells, and represents a common attack pattern that demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious URL patterns containing potentially malicious script payloads, while access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized personnel have administrative access to the WordPress dashboard.