CVE-2023-0823 in Cookie Notice & Compliance for GDPR CCPA Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2023
The Cookie Notice & Compliance for GDPR / CCPA WordPress plugin before 2.4.7 does not validate and escape some of its shortcode attributes before outputting them back in a page/post where the shortcode is embed, which could allow users with the contributor role and above to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0823 affects the Cookie Notice & Compliance for GDPR / CCPA WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 2.4.7. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables malicious actors with contributor-level privileges or higher to execute stored cross-site scripting attacks within WordPress environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation, creating an attack vector that directly impacts the integrity and security of WordPress websites relying on this plugin for compliance management.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's handling of shortcode attributes where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the web page. When administrators or contributors embed the plugin's shortcode within posts or pages, the system fails to validate or escape potentially malicious content passed through these attributes. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the content and execute whenever the affected page is loaded, making it a stored XSS vulnerability rather than a reflected one. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's shortcode functionality, which is commonly used for displaying cookie consent notices and compliance messages on websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it allows attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate website content, or redirect users to malicious sites. Contributors and above roles in WordPress typically have sufficient privileges to edit posts and pages, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who should normally have restricted capabilities. The stored nature of the XSS means that once a malicious payload is injected, it remains persistent and affects all users who view the compromised content, potentially compromising multiple users' sessions and data. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically targeting the injection category of security flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0823 primarily involve upgrading to version 2.4.7 or later of the Cookie Notice & Compliance for GDPR / CCPA plugin, which implements proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. Administrators should also conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations to identify any existing malicious payloads that may have been injected through this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies to limit script execution, restricting user privileges to minimize potential attack surfaces, and regularly monitoring plugin updates to ensure all security patches are applied promptly. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and proper input sanitization as outlined in various security frameworks including NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in their WordPress environments.