CVE-2022-27854 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article provides an overview of CVE-2022-27854, a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WordPress plugin 'Psychological tests & quizzes' version <= 0.21.19 developed by Alexander Ustimenko.

Understanding CVE-2022-27854

CVE-2022-27854 is a Medium severity vulnerability discovered by Ex.Mi (Patchstack) on April 26, 2022, with a CVSS base score of 5.4.

What is CVE-2022-27854?

The vulnerability is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue that affects users with a contributor or higher role on WordPress. It can be exploited via the '&wpt_test_page_submit_button_caption' parameter.

The Impact of CVE-2022-27854

With a base severity of Medium, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute malicious scripts in the context of the user's session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-27854

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in the 'Psychological tests & quizzes' WordPress plugin version <= 0.21.19 allows users with contributor or higher roles to execute arbitrary scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected version of the plugin is <= 0.21.19, impacting users running this specific version of the plugin.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by users with contributor or higher roles via the '&wpt_test_page_submit_button_caption' parameter, posing a risk of XSS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update the 'Psychological tests & quizzes' plugin to a secure version beyond 0.21.19 to eliminate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintain regular updates of plugins and themes, apply security best practices, and monitor for any unusual or suspicious activities on the website.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches released by plugin developers, and promptly apply updates to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.