CVE-2023-6155 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record pertains to the Quiz Maker WordPress plugin, specifically version before 6.4.9.5, which is susceptible to an unauthenticated email address disclosure vulnerability. An attacker could exploit this flaw to search for users in the system and expose their email addresses.

Understanding CVE-2023-6155

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2023-6155, including its impact, technical description, affected systems and versions, as well as mitigation and prevention measures.

What is CVE-2023-6155?

CVE-2023-6155 involves the Quiz Maker WordPress plugin version prior to 6.4.9.5, where a lack of proper authorization for the

ays_quiz_author_user_search

AJAX action allows unauthorized users to conduct user searches, leading to the disclosure of user email addresses.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6155

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables malicious actors to gather sensitive information such as user email addresses without the need for authentication. This could potentially lead to privacy breaches and targeted attacks on affected users.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6155

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-6155, including vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Quiz Maker WordPress plugin before 6.4.9.5 arises from insufficient authorization controls on the

ays_quiz_author_user_search

AJAX action, allowing unauthenticated users to search for system users and retrieve their email addresses.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Quiz Maker plugin versions earlier than 6.4.9.5. Systems using these versions are at risk of unauthorized disclosure of user email addresses.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the lack of proper authorization on the

ays_quiz_author_user_search

AJAX action, malicious actors can execute searches for users within the system and obtain their email addresses without the need for authentication.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-6155, it is crucial to implement immediate steps, adopt long-term security practices, and apply necessary patches and updates to safeguard systems and user data.

Immediate Steps to Take

System administrators should disable or restrict access to the vulnerable AJAX action

ays_quiz_author_user_search

to prevent unauthorized user searches and email address disclosures. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, maintaining regular security audits, staying informed about plugin vulnerabilities, and practicing the principle of least privilege can help enhance overall system security posture and mitigate the risk of similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Users of the Quiz Maker WordPress plugin should update to version 6.4.9.5 or later, which includes fixes for the vulnerability. Applying timely patches and staying current with software updates is essential to address security issues and prevent potential exploits.