CVE-2026-65498 in Complianz Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
Unauthenticated Sensitive Data Exposure in Complianz <= 7.5.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
The vulnerability identified in Complianz versions 7.5.0 and earlier represents a critical security flaw allowing unauthenticated access to sensitive data through improper access controls and inadequate authentication mechanisms. This issue falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities, specifically manifesting as sensitive data exposure that can be exploited by unauthorized parties without requiring any credentials or privileges. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate user authentication status before serving content that contains confidential information. Attackers can exploit this weakness by directly accessing specific endpoints or URLs within the plugin's functionality, bypassing the intended authorization checks that should prevent unauthorized access to protected data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the absence of proper authentication verification routines within key plugin functions and API endpoints. When users attempt to access certain administrative or sensitive data sections through the Complianz plugin, the system fails to verify whether the requester possesses appropriate authorization levels. This flaw creates a direct pathway for malicious actors to retrieve configuration details, user information, compliance documentation, and other sensitive materials that should only be accessible to authenticated administrators. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core functionality of privacy and compliance management features where data protection is paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can lead to significant regulatory compliance violations and potential legal consequences for organizations using affected versions. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability allows attackers to access not only basic configuration settings but also potentially sensitive user data and compliance reports that may contain personally identifiable information or other confidential business details. This exposure can result in data breaches that violate various privacy regulations including gdpr, ccpa, and other applicable data protection laws. Organizations relying on Complianz for managing their privacy compliance documentation face increased risk of regulatory penalties and reputational damage when this vulnerability remains unpatched.
According to the common weakness enumeration standard CWE-200, this vulnerability maps directly to "Information Exposure" which encompasses situations where system information is exposed to unauthorized actors. The issue also relates to CWE-352, "Cross-Site Request Forgery," as the lack of proper authentication mechanisms can enable attackers to manipulate requests and access protected resources through forged interactions. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the mitre att&ck technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS, where attackers might leverage exposed endpoints to gather intelligence or further compromise systems. The vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where access controls should prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive resources regardless of their network position.
Organizations should immediately update to Complianz version 7.5.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this authentication bypass issue. System administrators must conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and review access logs for evidence of unauthorized access. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to plugin endpoints, deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests, and conducting regular vulnerability scanning to detect similar issues in other installed plugins or components. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures specifically designed to detect unauthorized data access patterns that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing configurations while maintaining all intended plugin functionality and security controls.