CVE-2026-25324 Overview
CVE-2026-25324 is an Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in ExpressTech Systems Quiz And Survey Master (quiz-master-next) WordPress plugin. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels through Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR), potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive quiz and survey data.
Critical Impact
Attackers can bypass authorization controls to access, modify, or delete quiz and survey data belonging to other users by manipulating user-controlled key parameters.
Affected Products
- Quiz And Survey Master (quiz-master-next) WordPress plugin versions through <= 10.3.4
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-19 - CVE CVE-2026-25324 published to NVD
- 2026-02-19 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-25324
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key. The Quiz And Survey Master plugin fails to properly validate that the authenticated user has authorization to access the requested resource. Instead of verifying ownership or permissions server-side, the application relies on user-supplied identifiers to determine which resources to access or modify.
This type of vulnerability, commonly known as Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR), occurs when an application uses user-controllable input to directly access database objects or files without sufficient authorization checks. In the context of this WordPress quiz plugin, attackers can manipulate object identifiers in requests to access quiz submissions, survey responses, or configuration data belonging to other users.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient authorization validation within the Quiz And Survey Master plugin. When processing requests that include resource identifiers (such as quiz IDs, submission IDs, or user IDs), the plugin fails to verify that the requesting user has legitimate access rights to the specified resource. The application trusts the user-supplied key values without performing proper ownership or role-based access control checks on the server side.
Attack Vector
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the WordPress site (potentially as a low-privileged user or quiz participant) and then manipulating request parameters to access resources belonging to other users. By incrementing or guessing resource identifiers in API calls or form submissions, an attacker can enumerate and access sensitive data such as:
- Other users' quiz answers and scores
- Survey responses containing potentially sensitive information
- Quiz configuration and administrative settings
- User personal information associated with quiz submissions
The exploitation requires no special privileges beyond basic authentication to the WordPress site, making it relatively easy for malicious actors to abuse.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25324
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual patterns of sequential resource ID access in WordPress access logs
- Multiple requests to quiz/survey endpoints with incrementing or random ID parameters from a single user session
- Access log entries showing users retrieving quiz submissions or survey data for quizzes they did not create or participate in
- Anomalous API request patterns targeting quiz-master-next plugin endpoints
Detection Strategies
- Monitor WordPress access logs for suspicious patterns of IDOR exploitation attempts against quiz and survey endpoints
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect parameter tampering on sensitive plugin endpoints
- Review application logs for authorization failures or access denials that may indicate exploitation attempts
- Deploy endpoint detection solutions to monitor for unusual data exfiltration patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for the Quiz And Survey Master plugin if available
- Configure alerting for unusual access patterns to quiz submission data
- Implement user behavior analytics to detect abnormal resource access patterns
- Regularly audit quiz and survey access logs for unauthorized data retrieval
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25324
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Quiz And Survey Master plugin to a version newer than 10.3.4 when a patched version becomes available
- Temporarily disable the Quiz And Survey Master plugin if it handles sensitive data and an update is not yet available
- Review access logs for signs of prior exploitation
- Audit quiz and survey data for potential unauthorized access or modifications
Patch Information
Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest patch information and remediation guidance from the vendor. Users should update to a patched version as soon as one becomes available.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to quiz and survey functionality to trusted authenticated users only
- Implement additional server-side access controls through WordPress security plugins
- Consider using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to add an extra layer of protection against IDOR attacks
- Temporarily disable public access to quizzes and surveys containing sensitive data until a patch is applied
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
