Description
The WP Highlight Box WordPress plugin through 1.0 does not escape some shortcode attributes before outputting them in a page where the shortcode is embedded, which could allow users with the contributor role and above to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.
Published: 2026-09-12
Score: 6.8 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Stored Cross‑Site Scripting attack enabled by unescaped shortcode attributes
Action: Patch Now
AI Analysis

Impact

The WP Highlight Box plugin for WordPress, in versions up to 1.0, fails to escape certain shortcode attributes before rendering them on a page. This flaw allows an attacker with the Contributor role or higher to insert malicious JavaScript that is stored and later executed when any visitor views the affected content. Stored Cross‑Site Scripting can lead to session hijacking, defacement, or delivery of malware to site visitors.

Affected Systems

WordPress installations that have the WP Highlight Box plugin installed with version 1.0 or earlier are affected. The vulnerability manifests when the highlight‑box shortcode is used on a public post or page, allowing a contributor or higher user to embed unsanitized attributes. No specific operating system or server platform constraints are noted in the advisory.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 6.8 classifies the flaw as moderate severity. The EPSS score of less than 1% suggests a very low probability of exploitation in the wild, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The likely attack vector is that a contributor or higher user injects a malicious highlight‑box shortcode into a publicly viewable page, causing stored XSS for any visitor. While the overall risk remains lower due to the modest EPSS, the stored XSS remains a serious threat for sites that still grant contributors this capability, especially if the content is publicly displayed.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 15, 2026 at 18:37 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Update the WP Highlight Box plugin to a version newer than 1.0 that includes proper escaping.
  • If an update is not available, remove or disable the highlight‑box shortcode from the site or disable the plugin entirely.
  • Restrict the Contributor role by disabling the capability to add custom shortcodes.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 15, 2026 at 18:37 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Sat, 12 Sep 2026 09:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-79

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 06:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The WP Highlight Box WordPress plugin through 1.0 does not escape some shortcode attributes before outputting them in a page where the shortcode is embedded, which could allow users with the contributor role and above to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.
Title WP Highlight Box <= 1.0 - Contributor+ Stored XSS via highlight-box Shortcode
References

Subscriptions

No data.

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: WPScan

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-12T15:30:42.956Z

Reserved: 2026-09-08T11:53:19.348Z

Link: CVE-2026-86790

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-12T15:18:14.020Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-09-12T06:16:27.427

Modified: 2026-09-14T21:10:17.423

Link: CVE-2026-86790

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-15T18:45:18Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-79

    Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')