CVE-2026-24544 in HD Quiz Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/23/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Harmonic Design HD Quiz hd-quiz allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects HD Quiz: from n/a through <= 2.0.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-24544 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Harmonic Design HD Quiz plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through version 2.0.9. This security weakness resides in the plugin's access control configuration, where proper authorization checks are either absent or improperly implemented, creating a significant risk for unauthorized users to gain access to restricted functionality. The issue manifests as an incorrectly configured access control security level that fails to properly verify user permissions before granting access to sensitive features or data within the quiz management system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control enforcement mechanisms within the HD Quiz plugin architecture. When users attempt to interact with quiz management features, the system fails to properly authenticate and authorize their access rights, allowing malicious actors or unauthorized personnel to exploit this weakness. This flaw typically occurs when the application does not adequately verify user roles or permissions before executing privileged operations, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate quiz configurations, access restricted content, or perform administrative actions without proper authorization. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization issues in software systems where access control mechanisms are insufficient or improperly configured.
The operational impact of this missing authorization vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to compromise the integrity and availability of quiz data within the affected system. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive information such as quiz questions, user responses, grading configurations, or administrative controls that should only be accessible to authorized personnel. The consequences may include data breaches, unauthorized modifications to quiz content, potential injection of malicious code into quiz elements, or complete compromise of the quiz management functionality. This vulnerability particularly affects educational institutions, training organizations, or enterprises that rely on the HD Quiz plugin for assessment and evaluation purposes, where unauthorized access to quiz materials could result in academic dishonesty, data manipulation, or disruption of assessment processes.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by implementing proper access control mechanisms and ensuring that all user interactions with the quiz management system are properly authenticated and authorized. The recommended mitigation strategies include enforcing strict role-based access controls, implementing comprehensive input validation, and conducting thorough security testing of access control mechanisms. Organizations should also consider applying the latest available patch or upgrade to version 2.1.0 or later, which should contain the necessary security fixes to address the authorization gap. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, monitoring access attempts, and establishing proper logging mechanisms can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, where inadequate authorization controls provide attackers with pathways to escalate their privileges and compromise system integrity.