CVE-2026-14816 Overview
CVE-2026-14816 affects the GDPR Framework by Data443 WordPress plugin in versions prior to 2.4.0. The plugin fails to verify authorization or the identity of the data subject when recording cookie-consent choices and privacy requests. Unauthenticated attackers can forge consent records for arbitrary email addresses. They can also flood the site's privacy-request queue with arbitrary entries. The flaw is classified as Improper Access Control [CWE-284] and is exploitable remotely over the network without user interaction.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can forge GDPR consent records tied to arbitrary email addresses and pollute privacy-request queues, undermining the integrity of compliance records that regulators may rely on.
Affected Products
- GDPR Framework by Data443 WordPress plugin, all versions before 2.4.0
- WordPress sites using the plugin for cookie-consent management
- WordPress sites using the plugin for GDPR data-subject request handling
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-04 - CVE-2026-14816 published to NVD
- 2026-08-04 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-14816
Vulnerability Analysis
The GDPR Framework plugin exposes endpoints that accept cookie-consent submissions and privacy-request entries without validating who is submitting them. The plugin records the submitted data as authoritative consent evidence and enqueues privacy requests for administrator review. Because no authentication check, nonce validation, or email-ownership verification is performed, an attacker can send crafted HTTP requests that impersonate arbitrary users. The AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N characteristics reflect that any remote actor can trigger the issue.
The vulnerability falls under Improper Access Control [CWE-284] and results in integrity and availability degradation on the affected site. Forged consent records corrupt the audit trail that site owners depend on to demonstrate GDPR compliance. Flooded privacy-request queues force administrators to triage large volumes of illegitimate entries.
Root Cause
The plugin's consent and privacy-request handlers do not implement authorization checks or verify that the submitter controls the email address supplied in the request. There is no email-based confirmation loop, no capability check, and no rate limiting on the affected endpoints. Any HTTP client can submit arbitrary values that are persisted as if they originated from a legitimate data subject.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires only network reachability to a vulnerable WordPress instance. An attacker sends unauthenticated POST requests to the plugin's consent-recording or privacy-request endpoints, supplying an arbitrary email address and consent payload. Repeated requests can be scripted to inject large volumes of forged records. See the WPScan Vulnerability Report for endpoint specifics.
No verified public exploit code is available at time of publication.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-14816
Indicators of Compromise
- Sudden growth in consent records or privacy-request queue entries with unrelated or non-existent email addresses.
- Bursts of unauthenticated POST requests to plugin endpoints originating from a small set of source IPs or automated user agents.
- Consent records timestamped in tight sequences, inconsistent with organic user traffic patterns.
Detection Strategies
- Audit the plugin's database tables for consent entries with emails that do not correspond to known site visitors or registered users.
- Review web server access logs for high-frequency requests to GDPR Framework endpoints without authenticated session cookies.
- Compare privacy-request queue growth rates against historical baselines to identify anomalies.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable HTTP request logging on WordPress and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation.
- Alert on repeated POSTs to plugin URLs from single IPs exceeding a reasonable per-minute threshold.
- Monitor administrator dashboards for unexplained increases in pending privacy requests.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-14816
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the GDPR Framework by Data443 plugin to version 2.4.0 or later on all WordPress sites.
- Audit existing consent records and privacy-request entries created before the upgrade for forged data.
- Restrict access to plugin endpoints at the web application firewall (WAF) layer until the upgrade is verified in production.
Patch Information
Update the GDPR Framework by Data443 plugin to version 2.4.0 or later. Version 2.4.0 introduces authorization checks and identity verification for consent recording and privacy-request submission. Refer to the WPScan Vulnerability Report for the vendor's remediation reference.
Workarounds
- Deploy WAF rules that require a valid WordPress nonce or authenticated session cookie for requests to the plugin's consent and privacy-request endpoints.
- Apply rate limiting on the affected endpoints to reduce the impact of automated submission floods.
- Temporarily disable the plugin on sites that do not require active GDPR consent collection until the patch is applied.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
