CVE-2023-47834 in Quiz and Survey Master Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in ExpressTech Quiz And Survey Master plugin <= 8.1.13 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2023
The CVE-2023-47834 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ExpressTech Quiz And Survey Master WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 8.1.13. This vulnerability resides in the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary scripts into web pages viewed by unsuspecting users. The issue stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the plugin's survey and quiz generation functionalities, where input parameters are directly incorporated into dynamically generated HTML content without adequate security measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input within quiz or survey elements that are subsequently rendered on web pages. The flaw allows for the execution of malicious JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. The vulnerability's impact is amplified within the WordPress ecosystem where the plugin's functionality extends across multiple user roles, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or compromise entire sites through a single vulnerable endpoint.
Operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script execution, as it creates persistent security risks for websites utilizing the affected plugin. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal administrator credentials, modify survey data, redirect users to malicious sites, or establish persistent backdoors through the compromised plugin interface. The vulnerability affects both the frontend user experience and backend administrative functions, creating a comprehensive attack surface that could lead to complete site compromise. From an attack chain perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can craft malicious surveys or quizzes that, when viewed by administrators, execute malicious payloads. The impact is particularly severe in environments where multiple administrators interact with survey data, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate quiz results or inject malicious code into legitimate survey responses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-47834 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as the vendor has released patches to resolve the input sanitization issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied data within web applications, particularly in survey and form generation components. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, employing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns, and conducting regular security audits of third-party plugins. Additionally, administrators should establish least-privilege access controls for survey and quiz management functions, implement multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and maintain regular backups to ensure rapid recovery from potential compromise scenarios. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for thorough security testing of web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content.