CVE-2024-56277 Overview
CVE-2024-56277 is an improper output encoding vulnerability [CWE-116] affecting the Ays Pro Poll Maker plugin for WordPress. The flaw enables HTML injection attacks against affected sites running vulnerable versions of the plugin. The issue impacts all poll-maker releases up to and including version 5.5.5.
An unauthenticated attacker can inject HTML markup into plugin output over the network without user interaction. The vulnerability affects integrity but does not expose confidential data or disrupt availability. Site operators running the free WordPress distribution of Poll Maker should prioritize upgrading to a patched release.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can inject arbitrary HTML content into pages rendered by the Poll Maker plugin, enabling content spoofing and phishing lures against site visitors.
Affected Products
- Ays Pro Poll Maker plugin for WordPress (poll-maker)
- All versions from initial release through 5.5.5
- Free distribution channel on WordPress.org
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-21 - CVE-2024-56277 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-56277
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output. The Poll Maker plugin renders user-controlled input into HTML responses without applying context-appropriate output encoding. Attackers submit crafted payloads that the plugin returns verbatim in page markup.
The network-reachable attack surface requires no authentication and no user interaction. Because the issue is scoped to HTML injection rather than full script execution, impact is limited to integrity. Content spoofing, deceptive forms, and phishing overlays represent the most direct abuse paths against site visitors.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient output escaping in the plugin code paths that render poll-related content. WordPress provides escaping primitives such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses() for exactly this purpose. The vulnerable code paths through version 5.5.5 fail to apply these functions to data placed into HTML contexts.
Attack Vector
An attacker submits a payload containing HTML markup to a plugin endpoint that reflects or stores the input. When the plugin later renders the content, the browser interprets the injected tags as part of the legitimate page. The payload can include form elements, iframes, images, or styling that alters page appearance and behavior.
See the Patchstack vulnerability analysis for additional technical context on the affected code paths.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-56277
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected HTML tags such as <iframe>, <form>, <img>, or <style> appearing within poll content stored in the WordPress database
- Web server access logs showing POST or GET requests to Poll Maker endpoints with URL-encoded HTML markup in parameters
- Visitor reports describing unexpected redirects, overlays, or login prompts on pages that embed polls
Detection Strategies
- Audit the WordPress wp_posts and plugin-specific database tables for poll records containing raw HTML tags that should not be present
- Monitor web application firewall logs for requests to poll-maker endpoints containing suspicious markup patterns
- Compare rendered poll pages against known-good baselines to identify injected content
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging for plugin configuration changes and poll content modifications
- Deploy a web application firewall with rules that inspect inbound parameters for HTML metacharacters targeting the plugin
- Review the installed version of poll-maker across all WordPress instances and flag any at or below 5.5.5
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-56277
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the Ays Pro Poll Maker plugin to a release later than 5.5.5 on every WordPress site in your estate
- Inventory existing poll content and remove any records containing unauthorized HTML markup
- Restrict access to poll submission endpoints until the plugin is patched
Patch Information
A fixed release is available from the plugin vendor. Site administrators should update poll-maker through the WordPress plugin manager or by downloading the latest release from the official plugin repository. Confirm the installed version is greater than 5.5.5 after applying the update. Reference the Patchstack advisory for patch details.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the Poll Maker plugin until an upgrade can be scheduled
- Deploy web application firewall rules that strip or block HTML tags in requests to plugin endpoints
- Limit the roles permitted to interact with poll submission functionality where configurable
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
