CVE-2021-24456 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A high-severity vulnerability has been discovered in the Quiz Maker WordPress plugin before version 6.2.0.9. This vulnerability could allow attackers to execute SQL injection attacks in the admin dashboard.

Understanding CVE-2021-24456

This CVE details multiple authenticated blind SQL injections in the Quiz Maker plugin.

What is CVE-2021-24456?

The Quiz Maker WordPress plugin before 6.2.0.9 fails to properly sanitize the order and orderby parameters, making it susceptible to SQL injection attacks in the admin dashboard.

The Impact of CVE-2021-24456

Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow authenticated attackers to manipulate SQL queries, potentially leading to data exposure, modification, or deletion.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-24456

This section dives into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the plugin's failure to sanitize user-supplied input, specifically the order and orderby parameters, before incorporating them into SQL queries.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Quiz Maker plugin versions prior to 6.2.0.9.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with authenticated access can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious SQL statements via the affected parameters, enabling them to perform unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here's how you can address and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-24456.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update the Quiz Maker plugin to version 6.2.0.9 or later to mitigate the SQL injection risk.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices, input validation, and proper parameter escaping to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update all installed plugins, especially Quiz Maker, to ensure protection against known security risks.