CVE-2020-36504 in WP-Pro-Quiz Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2021
The WP-Pro-Quiz WordPress plugin through 0.37 does not have CSRF check in place when deleting a quiz, which could allow an attacker to make a logged in admin delete arbitrary quiz on the blog
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-36504 affects the WP-Pro-Quiz WordPress plugin version 0.37 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of administrative operations within WordPress environments. This issue stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms during the quiz deletion process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit legitimate administrative sessions.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF token validation when processing quiz deletion requests. When an administrator performs actions within the WordPress admin interface, the system should validate that the request originates from a legitimate source within the same session. Without this validation, an attacker can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators, thereby enabling unauthorized quiz deletion operations.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities. The operational impact extends beyond simple data loss, as quiz deletion can compromise educational content, assessment data, and user progress tracking within learning management systems that rely on this plugin. The attack vector requires minimal privileges since it targets existing administrative sessions rather than requiring authentication credentials.
The security implications are particularly severe in environments where administrators frequently access the WordPress admin interface, as the attacker only needs to convince a logged-in admin to visit a malicious website or click on a crafted link containing the exploit. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, as it leverages existing administrative privileges through session hijacking rather than credential theft.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms, as this vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as role-based access controls, session management improvements, and regular security audits of installed plugins. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and additional request validation can provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other plugins that may lack CSRF protection, as this represents a common pattern in WordPress plugin development that requires consistent security hardening practices across all administrative interfaces.