CVE-2022-4219 in Chained Quiz Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/03/2022
The Chained Quiz plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 1.3.2.4. This is due to missing nonce validation on the manage() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete submitted quiz responses via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2026
The Chained Quiz plugin for WordPress represents a widely used educational tool that enables administrators to create interactive quizzes and assessments for their websites. This particular vulnerability affects versions up to and including 1.3.2.4, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that rely on this plugin for quiz management and user interaction. The vulnerability stems from a critical design flaw in the plugin's security implementation, specifically within the manage() function that handles administrative operations. This flaw represents a direct violation of fundamental web application security principles and exposes the plugin to various attack vectors that could compromise the integrity and availability of quiz data.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of nonce validation within the manage() function, which serves as the primary mechanism for authenticating administrative actions within the plugin. Nonce validation represents a critical security control that ensures requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions and prevents unauthorized modifications to plugin data. Without this validation, any attacker capable of constructing a malicious request can perform administrative operations such as deleting quiz responses. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness where a malicious actor can induce a victim to perform actions they did not intend to execute. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication as it relies on social engineering techniques to trick administrators into clicking malicious links, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently interact with external content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it compromises the integrity and trustworthiness of the quiz system. When administrators delete quiz responses, they not only lose valuable user data but also potentially disrupt educational assessments and learning outcomes for users who have invested time in completing quizzes. The vulnerability affects unauthenticated attackers, meaning that no prior access or credentials are required to exploit the flaw, significantly expanding the attack surface. This weakness creates a persistent threat that can be leveraged repeatedly until the plugin is updated or patched, potentially allowing attackers to systematically remove quiz submissions and undermine the plugin's utility for educational purposes.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics including the manipulation of user behavior through deceptive links and content. The attack requires minimal technical expertise from the attacker while potentially causing significant disruption to legitimate users and administrators. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the plugin, implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, and conducting security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential social engineering attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in plugin development, emphasizing that even seemingly simple administrative functions require robust security controls to prevent unauthorized access and modification of user data.