CVE-2026-1247 in Survey Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2026
The Survey plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via admin settings in all versions up to, and including, 1.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level permissions and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-1247 affects the Survey plugin for WordPress, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting weakness that compromises the security of affected installations. This flaw exists in all versions up to and including 1.1 of the plugin, making it a persistent threat across multiple releases. The vulnerability specifically targets the admin settings functionality where insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms fail to properly validate or escape user-provided data. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability must possess administrator-level permissions or higher, which significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows authenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts that will execute whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected content, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users within the same installation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize input data submitted through admin settings, combined with inadequate output escaping when rendering content. This combination creates a stored XSS condition where malicious scripts are permanently stored within the plugin's configuration or data handling mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in multi-site WordPress installations where the attack can potentially affect multiple sites within a single network. Additionally, the vulnerability's effectiveness is further constrained by the requirement that unfiltered_html must be disabled, which is a standard security practice in many WordPress installations. However, this requirement also means that administrators who have disabled unfiltered_html are particularly vulnerable since they have explicitly chosen to restrict HTML input, making the plugin's failure to properly sanitize this input even more dangerous. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities as a result of insufficient input validation and output escaping.
The operational impact of CVE-2026-1247 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the WordPress environment. Once successfully exploited, the injected scripts can perform various malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, data exfiltration, and further privilege escalation within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability's location within admin settings makes it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to modify plugin configurations, create backdoor access points, or manipulate survey data in ways that could compromise the integrity of collected information. In multi-site environments, this vulnerability could enable attackers to compromise multiple installations simultaneously, potentially affecting entire WordPress networks. The requirement for administrator-level access means that this vulnerability is often exploited through credential compromise or privilege escalation attacks rather than through direct public exploitation, but it remains a significant concern for organizations with strong administrative access controls.
Organizations affected by CVE-2026-1247 should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their WordPress installations. The most immediate and effective solution involves upgrading to the latest version of the Survey plugin where the vulnerability has been patched, though administrators should verify that the update properly addresses the specific input sanitization and output escaping issues. Additionally, implementing strict input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the WordPress environment can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other plugins or themes. Security hardening practices should include regular monitoring of plugin repositories for security updates, implementing role-based access controls to limit administrative privileges, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in environments where attackers have already gained administrative access to WordPress installations. Regular security training for administrators and implementation of security awareness programs can help reduce the risk of credential compromise that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability.