CVE-2025-32256
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2025-32256 is a missing authorization vulnerability in SurveyJS that allows attackers to access functionality not properly constrained by access controls. This affects SurveyJS WordPress plugin versions up to 1.12.20, potentially allowing unauthorized users to perform actions reserved for administrators or other privileged users.
💻 Affected Systems
- SurveyJS WordPress Plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could modify survey configurations, delete survey data, or access sensitive survey responses and user information that should be restricted.
Likely Case
Unauthorized users could view or modify survey settings, potentially disrupting survey functionality or accessing limited sensitive data.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls, only authorized users can access administrative functions, limiting impact to intended functionality.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires access to the WordPress site but not necessarily authentication to the vulnerable plugin.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 1.12.20
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/surveyjs/vulnerability/wordpress-surveyjs-plugin-1-12-20-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find SurveyJS plugin
4. Click 'Update Now' if update available
5. Alternatively, download latest version from WordPress repository and replace existing files
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Temporary Plugin Deactivation
allDisable the SurveyJS plugin until patched to prevent exploitation
wp plugin deactivate surveyjs
Access Restriction via .htaccess
linuxRestrict access to SurveyJS admin pages using web server configuration
# Add to .htaccess in WordPress root:
<FilesMatch "surveyjs.*\.php">
Require valid-user
</FilesMatch>
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement network-level access controls to restrict access to WordPress admin interface
- Enable WordPress security plugins that monitor for unauthorized access attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → SurveyJS version. If version is 1.12.20 or lower, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get surveyjs --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify SurveyJS plugin version is higher than 1.12.20 in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized access attempts to SurveyJS admin endpoints in WordPress logs
- Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful access to surveyjs-admin.php
Network Indicators:
- Unusual HTTP requests to /wp-content/plugins/surveyjs/ endpoints from unauthorized IPs
- POST requests to survey configuration endpoints from non-admin users
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("surveyjs" OR "surveyjs-admin") AND (status=200 OR status=302) AND user_role!="administrator"