Source: cve@mitre.org
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in pages/admin/surveys/create.php in the WP Survey And Quiz Tool plugin 1.2.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the action parameter.
Critical vulnerability exists in the WP Survey And Quiz Tool plugin for WordPress, allowing remote attackers to inject malicious scripts via a cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw. This could lead to account compromise, data theft, and website defacement, severely impacting the integrity and availability of the affected WordPress installations.
Step 1: Payload Delivery: The attacker crafts a malicious URL containing a JavaScript payload within the action parameter. For example: http://vulnerable-site.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=wp-survey-and-quiz-tool/pages/admin/surveys/create.php&action=<script>alert('XSS')</script>
Step 2: Request Submission: The attacker tricks a legitimate user (e.g., an administrator) into clicking the malicious URL, perhaps through phishing or social engineering.
Step 3: Server Processing: The WordPress server, with the vulnerable plugin installed, receives the request and processes it.
Step 4: Vulnerable Code Execution: The create.php script within the plugin retrieves the value of the action parameter without proper sanitization.
Step 5: HTML Rendering: The plugin then incorporates the unsanitized action parameter's value directly into the HTML response sent back to the user's browser.
Step 6: Malicious Script Execution: The user's browser executes the injected JavaScript payload, allowing the attacker to perform actions such as stealing cookies, redirecting the user, or defacing the website.
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding of the action parameter within the create.php file of the WP Survey And Quiz Tool plugin. Specifically, the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within the HTML response. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code, which is then executed in the context of the victim's browser, leading to XSS. The root cause is a missing or inadequate implementation of input validation and output encoding (e.g., HTML entity encoding) for the action parameter, allowing malicious code to be rendered directly to the user's browser.
While no specific APT groups are directly linked to this CVE, XSS vulnerabilities are commonly exploited by various threat actors for initial access and privilege escalation. This vulnerability could be leveraged in conjunction with other exploits to achieve more significant impact. Not listed on CISA KEV.
Web Application Firewall (WAF) logs showing suspicious HTTP requests containing JavaScript payloads in the action parameter of requests to create.php.
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) alerts triggered by XSS signatures in HTTP requests.
Server-side logs (e.g., Apache, Nginx) showing unusual activity or requests to create.php with potentially malicious parameters.
Browser-based security tools (e.g., browser extensions) detecting and blocking XSS attempts.
Upgrade the WP Survey And Quiz Tool plugin to a patched version (if available).
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter and block malicious requests containing XSS payloads.
Apply input validation to the action parameter, ensuring that it only accepts expected values and formats.
Implement output encoding (e.g., HTML entity encoding) to sanitize the action parameter's value before rendering it in the HTML response.
Regularly scan the WordPress installation for vulnerabilities using security scanners.
Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated to the latest versions.
Review and harden the server configuration to minimize attack surface.