CVE-2024-27966 in Quiz and Survey Master Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/11/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in ExpressTech Quiz And Survey Master allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Quiz And Survey Master: from n/a through 8.2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
The CVE-2024-27966 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the ExpressTech Quiz And Survey Master plugin, which is widely used for creating online assessments and surveys. This stored XSS flaw occurs during the web page generation process when user input is improperly sanitized or neutralized before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of data submitted through quiz and survey forms, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever affected pages are loaded. The issue affects all versions from the initial release through version 8.2.2, indicating a long-standing problem that has not been adequately addressed in the plugin's codebase.
This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The stored nature of this XSS attack means that malicious scripts are permanently stored on the server and executed against unsuspecting users who visit affected pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through survey or quiz creation forms, which are then stored in the database and executed when other users view the content. The attack vector typically involves injecting javascript code or other malicious scripts that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it affects the core functionality of the plugin, which handles user-generated content in survey and quiz environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-27966 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, data exfiltration, and potential privilege escalation within the affected WordPress environment. When attackers successfully inject malicious scripts, they can steal administrator credentials, modify survey content, manipulate quiz results, or redirect users to phishing sites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, creating a continuous threat that affects all users who encounter the compromised content. This vulnerability particularly threatens websites that rely heavily on user-generated surveys and quizzes, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold to conduct further attacks against the WordPress installation and its users. The issue becomes more dangerous in environments where administrators frequently interact with survey data or where the plugin is used for sensitive data collection.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their systems. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the latest version of the Quiz And Survey Master plugin where the XSS vulnerability has been patched, as this represents the most effective long-term solution. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms to sanitize all user-provided data before it is processed or stored in the database. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional defense-in-depth measure to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Regular security audits of plugin installations, including verification of plugin integrity and monitoring for unauthorized modifications, should be conducted to identify potential exploitation attempts. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious patterns in web traffic that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around survey and quiz related endpoints. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining updated security practices and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of all installed plugins to prevent similar issues from compromising system integrity.