CVE-2023-6498 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-6498 involves a vulnerability in the Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent plugin for WordPress, allowing for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks. The flaw exists in all versions up to and including 6.5.5, making it possible for authenticated attackers with administrator-level permissions to inject malicious scripts into pages.

Understanding CVE-2023-6498

The vulnerability in the Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent plugin for WordPress exposes websites to Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, potentially leading to unauthorized script execution.

What is CVE-2023-6498?

CVE-2023-6498 refers to a security issue in the Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent plugin for WordPress, allowing authenticated attackers to inject harmful scripts via admin settings due to inadequate input sanitization and output escaping.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6498

The CVE-2023-6498 vulnerability can be exploited by attackers with administrator privileges to insert malicious web scripts that execute when users access affected pages. This risk is particularly prevalent in multi-site installations and instances where unfiltered_html is disabled.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6498

The vulnerability description pertains to Stored Cross-Site Scripting facilitated by insufficient input sanitization and output escaping within the Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent plugin for WordPress.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows authenticated attackers with high-level permissions to inject arbitrary web scripts into affected pages, potentially executing malicious actions upon user interaction.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of the Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent plugin for WordPress up to and including version 6.5.5 are susceptible to this vulnerability, particularly impacting multi-site installations and instances with disabled unfiltered_html.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping, enabling attackers to embed harmful scripts in admin settings, which execute upon user access to compromised pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-6498 and mitigate the risks associated with Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, immediate action is required.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should update the Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent plugin to a secure version, ensuring that the latest patches addressing the vulnerability are applied promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security audits and coding best practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising website security, emphasizing robust input validation and output encoding methods.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly install patches and updates provided by the plugin vendor to safeguard against known vulnerabilities and enhance the overall security posture of WordPress websites.