CVE-2023-49191 in GDPR Cookie Consent Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Supsystic GDPR Cookie Consent by Supsystic allows Stored XSS.This issue affects GDPR Cookie Consent by Supsystic: from n/a through 2.1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2024
The CVE-2023-49191 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Supsystic GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, which has been identified as a stored XSS vulnerability affecting versions up to 2.1.2. This vulnerability resides in the web page generation process where input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly neutralize user-supplied data before it is rendered in web pages. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever affected pages are loaded by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's handling of user input during the generation of cookie consent pages and associated administrative interfaces, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and exfiltrate sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase, which directly maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. The flaw occurs when administrators or users provide input through various plugin interfaces that are subsequently stored in the WordPress database without proper sanitization. When these stored inputs are later retrieved and displayed in web pages, the malicious code executes within the context of the victim's browser, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over extended periods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges and access sensitive administrative functions. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including administrative interfaces, cookie consent configuration pages, and any user input fields within the plugin's functionality. Attackers can leverage this flaw to inject malicious scripts that can steal cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or even establish backdoor access to compromised sites. The implications are particularly severe for WordPress sites that rely on the Supsystic GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, as these sites may become compromised without immediate detection, potentially affecting thousands of users and leading to data breaches or reputational damage. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate within the plugin's interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-49191 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches to resolve the input sanitization issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing interfaces, ensuring that all data entering the application is properly sanitized before storage. Security measures should include regular vulnerability scanning of WordPress installations, implementation of content security policies to prevent script execution, and monitoring for unauthorized changes to plugin files or database entries. Additionally, administrators should enforce principle of least privilege access controls, regularly audit plugin configurations, and maintain up-to-date security monitoring tools to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include thorough database cleanup to remove any existing malicious payloads and comprehensive user session management to invalidate compromised credentials following exploitation attempts.