CVE-2026-24544 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability in the Harmonic Design HD Quiz WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions up to and including 2.0.9. This vulnerability arises from incorrectly configured access control security levels within the plugin, allowing users with low privileges (PR:L) to perform actions or access data that should be restricted. The flaw does not require user interaction (UI:N) and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality to a limited degree (C:L) but does not affect integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). The plugin is commonly used to create and manage quizzes within WordPress sites, often in educational or training contexts. The missing authorization means that an authenticated user with minimal privileges could potentially access quiz content or metadata they should not see, potentially exposing sensitive information such as quiz questions, answers, or user responses. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild, indicating that exploitation may require some knowledge of the plugin’s internal access control mechanisms. The vulnerability was published on January 23, 2026, and assigned a CVSS v3.1 score of 4.3, categorizing it as medium severity. The issue highlights the importance of proper access control enforcement in WordPress plugins, especially those handling sensitive educational data.

For European organizations, particularly those in education, training, or e-learning sectors that utilize WordPress and the HD Quiz plugin, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of quiz content or user responses. While the impact on confidentiality is limited, exposure of quiz answers or user data could undermine the integrity of assessments and potentially violate data protection regulations such as GDPR if personal data is involved. The vulnerability does not enable data modification or service disruption, so integrity and availability impacts are minimal. However, unauthorized access to quiz data could damage organizational reputation and trust, especially in academic environments. Since exploitation requires at least low-level authentication, the threat is primarily from insider threats or compromised low-privilege accounts. European organizations with large WordPress deployments and active use of educational plugins should assess their exposure and consider this vulnerability in their risk management processes.

1. Monitor Harmonic Design’s official channels for patches or updates addressing CVE-2026-24544 and apply them promptly once available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict access to the HD Quiz plugin’s administrative and quiz management interfaces to trusted users only, using role-based access controls and WordPress capability restrictions. 3. Conduct an audit of user roles and permissions within WordPress to ensure that only necessary users have access to quiz-related functions. 4. Implement web application firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the HD Quiz plugin endpoints. 5. Enable detailed logging and monitoring of access to quiz data and plugin functions to detect unauthorized access attempts early. 6. Educate administrators and users about the risks of privilege escalation and the importance of strong authentication practices. 7. Consider isolating sensitive quiz content or migrating to alternative quiz management solutions with verified secure access controls if immediate patching is not feasible.