CVE-2021-24221 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Quiz And Survey Master plugin for WordPress before version 7.1.12 is vulnerable to an authenticated SQL injection via shortcode.

Understanding CVE-2021-24221

This CVE identifies a security flaw in the Quiz And Survey Master plugin for WordPress, allowing SQL injection via shortcode.

What is CVE-2021-24221?

The vulnerability in the Quiz And Survey Master plugin for WordPress, before version 7.1.12, enables attackers to perform SQL injection through a shortcode, potentially leading to unauthorized access to the database management system.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24221

The vulnerability allows unauthenticated users to exploit SQL injection by embedding a specific shortcode on public pages or posts, compromising the integrity of the database.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24221

This section covers the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the plugin's failure to sanitize the result_id GET parameter on pages, concatenating it in an SQL statement and opening the door to SQL injection attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Quiz And Survey Master plugin versions prior to 7.1.12 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this security flaw by using the [qsm_result] shortcode without the id attribute, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the database management system.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-24221, consider the following steps.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Quiz And Survey Master plugin to version 7.1.12 or later.
Restrict access to the affected shortcode to trusted users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit plugins for security vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe shortcode usage to prevent injection attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates for the Quiz And Survey Master plugin to protect your WordPress installation from potential threats.