CVE-2019-25297 Overview
CVE-2019-25297 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Poll, Survey & Quiz Maker Plugin by Opinion Stage for WordPress. Versions prior to 19.6.25 are vulnerable due to insufficient input validation and output escaping across multiple parameters. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to inject arbitrary JavaScript into content that executes when a victim views an affected page.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors and administrators, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, website defacement, or malware distribution.
Affected Products
- Poll, Survey & Quiz Maker Plugin by Opinion Stage (WordPress) versions prior to 19.6.25
- WordPress sites using the social-polls-by-opinionstage plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-16 - CVE CVE-2019-25297 published to NVD
- 2026-01-16 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2019-25297
Vulnerability Analysis
This stored XSS vulnerability (CWE-79) stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before storing it in the database and rendering it on web pages. The vulnerability affects multiple parameters within the plugin's functionality, allowing attackers to embed malicious JavaScript payloads that persist in the WordPress database.
When legitimate users or administrators access pages containing the malicious content, the injected scripts execute within their browser context. This is particularly dangerous because stored XSS attacks do not require social engineering to deliver the payload—victims simply need to view the compromised page during normal site usage.
The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any malicious actor. However, user interaction is required for the payload to execute (the victim must view the affected page).
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is inadequate input validation and insufficient output escaping in the plugin code. The affected parameters accept user input without properly sanitizing special characters such as <, >, ", and ' that are used in HTML and JavaScript. When this unsanitized data is later displayed on pages, the browser interprets the injected code as legitimate script content rather than as data to be displayed.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation. An unauthenticated attacker can submit specially crafted input containing JavaScript payloads through the plugin's poll, survey, or quiz features. The malicious content is stored in the WordPress database and served to any user who views the affected content.
The attack typically involves injecting payloads that can steal session cookies, capture keystrokes, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated administrators. For detailed technical analysis, see the Wordfence Vulnerability Intelligence report and the WordPress Plugin Changeset that addresses this issue.
Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25297
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags or JavaScript event handlers (e.g., onerror, onload) in poll, survey, or quiz content stored in the WordPress database
- Anomalous outbound requests to unknown external domains from client browsers when viewing plugin-generated content
- Reports from users experiencing unexpected redirects or pop-ups when interacting with polls or surveys
- Web Application Firewall (WAF) logs showing blocked XSS attempts targeting the plugin's endpoints
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall rules to detect and block common XSS payloads in requests to WordPress plugin endpoints
- Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution and report policy violations
- Regularly audit database content for suspicious JavaScript patterns in plugin-related tables
- Monitor browser-side error logs and CSP violation reports for signs of XSS exploitation attempts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for WordPress plugin activity and user input submissions
- Configure alerts for database modifications containing script tags or JavaScript event handlers
- Monitor outbound network traffic from web servers for connections to suspicious domains
- Review web server access logs for unusual parameter values in requests to the Opinion Stage plugin
How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25297
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Poll, Survey & Quiz Maker Plugin by Opinion Stage to version 19.6.25 or later immediately
- Audit existing poll, survey, and quiz content in the WordPress database for malicious JavaScript
- Implement Content Security Policy headers to mitigate the impact of any existing stored XSS payloads
- Consider temporarily disabling the plugin until the update can be applied if immediate patching is not possible
Patch Information
The vulnerability is addressed in version 19.6.25 of the plugin. The patch implements proper input validation and output escaping for the affected parameters. The fix can be reviewed in the WordPress Plugin Changeset. Updates can be obtained through the WordPress plugin repository at the Social Polls Plugin Page.
Additional vulnerability details are available from:
Workarounds
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with XSS filtering rules to block malicious payloads targeting the plugin
- Implement strict Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of inline scripts and restrict script sources
- Restrict access to the plugin's administrative features to trusted IP addresses while awaiting patch deployment
- Disable or remove the plugin entirely if it is not critical to site functionality until updates can be applied
# Example Content Security Policy header configuration for Apache
# Add to .htaccess or virtual host configuration
Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline'; img-src 'self' data:; frame-ancestors 'self';"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
