CVE-2021-4348 in Ultimate GDPR & CCPA Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/07/2023
The Ultimate GDPR & CCPA plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthenticated settings import and export via the export_settings & import_settings functions in versions up to, and including, 2.4. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to change plugin settings and conduct attacks such as redirecting visitors to malicious sites.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2026
The Ultimate GDPR & CCPA plugin for WordPress represents a widely used tool designed to help website administrators comply with data protection regulations including the General Data Protection Regulation and California Consumer Privacy Act. This plugin provides functionality for managing cookie consent banners, data processing agreements, and other compliance-related features. However, a critical security vulnerability has been identified in versions up to and including 2.4 that fundamentally compromises the plugin's integrity and the security of affected WordPress installations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication checks within the plugin's core functionality, specifically affecting the export_settings and import_settings functions that are exposed to unauthenticated users.
The technical flaw manifests through the absence of proper authentication and authorization controls within the plugin's settings management system. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by directly accessing the export_settings and import_settings endpoints without requiring valid credentials or administrative privileges. This weakness allows unauthorized users to manipulate plugin configurations and potentially execute malicious code within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a classic example of insufficient access control that enables privilege escalation attacks. The exposed functions essentially create backdoors within the plugin that bypass normal WordPress security mechanisms, making them particularly dangerous for publicly accessible websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes and creates significant risks for affected websites. Unauthenticated attackers can leverage this weakness to redirect visitors to malicious domains, potentially leading to phishing attacks, malware distribution, or credential theft. The ability to modify plugin settings also opens pathways for more sophisticated attacks including the installation of malicious code, modification of consent banners, or manipulation of data processing configurations that could undermine the very purpose of the plugin. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and violates fundamental security concepts that should protect administrative functions from unauthorized access. The attack surface is particularly concerning for WordPress installations where the plugin is widely deployed and often used on high-traffic websites with sensitive user data.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate remediation through version updates to the latest available release where the vulnerability has been patched. Administrators must ensure that all WordPress installations running this plugin undergo urgent updates to eliminate the exposure window. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious access patterns to the vulnerable endpoints, and firewall rules can be implemented to restrict access to these specific plugin functions. The principle of defense in depth suggests implementing additional controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block exploitation attempts targeting known vulnerable functions. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins should include verification of authentication mechanisms and access controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely updates across all deployed WordPress environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication implementation and highlights the need for continuous security assessment of third-party plugins that handle sensitive configuration data.