CVE-2024-24836 in GDPR Data Request Form Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/08/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Audrasjb GDPR Data Request Form allows Stored XSS.This issue affects GDPR Data Request Form: from n/a through 1.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2024
The CVE-2024-24836 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Audrasjb GDPR Data Request Form plugin, specifically classified as a stored XSS vulnerability under CWE-79. This vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process where input data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users, creating a persistent security risk that can affect multiple users simultaneously. The issue affects all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 1.6, indicating a long-standing problem that has not been adequately addressed in the codebase.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's form processing functionality. When users submit data through the GDPR request form, the plugin fails to properly neutralize potentially malicious script content that may be embedded in the input fields. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets stored in the application's database or storage mechanism, making the payload persistent and automatically executed whenever other users view the affected content or interact with the form data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations handling personal data under GDPR compliance requirements. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, any user who accesses the compromised form data or related pages becomes vulnerable to the attack vector. This could potentially lead to session hijacking, data theft, privilege escalation, or the redirection of users to malicious websites. The impact is particularly severe in GDPR environments where maintaining data integrity and user privacy is paramount, as this vulnerability could be exploited to access sensitive personal information or compromise the trust relationship between organizations and data subjects.
The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 by enabling unauthorized access to data through the exploitation of input validation weaknesses, and it represents a classic example of how web application security controls can be bypassed through inadequate sanitization of user inputs. Organizations using this plugin should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper content security policies. The recommended approach includes updating to the latest available version of the plugin, implementing additional input sanitization measures, and conducting thorough security testing to identify any potential variants of the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious user input patterns to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.