CVE-2023-1069 in Complianz GDPR CCPA Cookie Consent Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2023
The Complianz WordPress plugin before 6.4.2, Complianz Premium WordPress plugin before 6.4.2 do 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 • 02/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1069 affects the Complianz WordPress plugin and its premium variant, specifically versions prior to 6.4.2. This security flaw represents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that undermines the integrity of WordPress sites utilizing these plugins. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious code into website content.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's handling of shortcode attributes where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being rendered back to end users. When administrators or contributors with appropriate privileges embed shortcodes containing malicious payloads, the plugin fails to properly escape these attributes before outputting them in the rendered page. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the affected WordPress installation. The vulnerability specifically targets the contributor role and above, indicating that even relatively low-privilege users can exploit this flaw to gain significant control over the site's frontend operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS attacks as it enables persistent malicious code execution that can affect multiple visitors over time. Once a malicious shortcode is embedded in a page or post, the stored script executes every time the page is loaded, potentially affecting all users who access the compromised content. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for websites that rely on contributor-level users to manage content, as these users may not be adequately protected against such attacks. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even if the initial injection is detected and removed, the malicious code continues to execute for all users who encounter the affected content, creating a persistent threat vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-1069 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions 6.4.2 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the validation and escaping issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of their WordPress installations to detect any unauthorized shortcode modifications and establish strict content review processes for users with contributor privileges. Security measures should include implementing content security policies to limit script execution, regularly auditing plugin configurations, and maintaining up-to-date security monitoring tools. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution through web shells or stored XSS attacks. The remediation process must also include thorough testing of the updated plugin to ensure that security patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing website functionality and that all user roles maintain appropriate access controls to prevent unauthorized shortcode injection.