CVE-2026-26370 in Survey Maker
Summary
by MITRE • 02/20/2026
WordPress Plugin "Survey Maker" versions 5.1.7.7 and prior contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability. If this vulnerability is exploited, an arbitrary script may be executed in the user's web browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-26370 affects the WordPress plugin Survey Maker, specifically versions 5.1.7.7 and earlier, presenting a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that poses significant risks to user security. This flaw exists within the plugin's handling of user input and output, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary scripts within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and validation of data passed through various parameters within the plugin's functionality, particularly when processing survey responses, form elements, or administrative inputs that are subsequently rendered to end users. Such vulnerabilities typically arise when developers fail to properly encode or escape output data before presenting it to users, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that can persist and execute in the victim's browser environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious input that gets stored or processed by the Survey Maker plugin and then displayed to other users without proper sanitization. When a victim visits a page containing the maliciously injected script, the code executes within their browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including phishing, data exfiltration, or the deployment of additional malware. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of how insecure input handling can compromise user security. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566, specifically the technique of "Phishing" where malicious payloads are delivered through compromised web applications, and potentially T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it affects any WordPress installation running the vulnerable Survey Maker plugin, potentially compromising thousands of users who interact with surveys or forms created through this plugin. The vulnerability's persistence depends on whether the malicious input is stored in the database or processed dynamically, with stored XSS variants being particularly dangerous as they can affect multiple users over time. Administrators may not immediately detect the compromise as the malicious scripts often appear legitimate to end users, making the attack stealthy and difficult to trace. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill from attackers, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may not be security-savvy or where multiple users interact with the same survey platforms. Organizations relying on survey functionality for data collection, feedback, or user engagement face significant risk of data breaches or unauthorized access to their systems through this vector.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the Survey Maker plugin to version 5.1.7.8 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, particularly for any user-generated content processed by the plugin. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting the capabilities of the plugin's administrative functions and ensuring proper user access controls. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution and maintain detailed logging of all plugin activities for forensic analysis purposes. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of keeping all web applications and plugins updated, as well as the necessity of conducting thorough security assessments of third-party software before deployment in production environments.