CVE-2026-2505
Stored XSS in WordPress Categories Images Plugin via Shortcode
Publication date: 2026-04-18
Last updated on: 2026-04-18
Assigner: Wordfence
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| category_images | plugin | to 3.3.1 (inc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-79 | The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
The Categories Images plugin for WordPress has a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in versions up to and including 3.3.1. This vulnerability occurs via the 'z_taxonomy_image' shortcode, where attacker-controlled input is passed into a fallback image builder that concatenates HTML attributes without proper escaping. As a result, authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher can inject malicious web scripts that execute when other users interact with the affected frontend page.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability allows attackers with Contributor-level access or higher to inject arbitrary scripts into the website. These scripts can execute in the context of other users visiting the site, potentially leading to theft of user credentials, session hijacking, defacement, or other malicious actions. The impact includes loss of data integrity and confidentiality, and it may affect the trustworthiness of the website.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access and above to inject arbitrary web scripts via a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw. This could lead to unauthorized access or manipulation of user data when interacting with the affected frontend pages.
Such unauthorized script execution can potentially compromise the confidentiality and integrity of personal data, which may impact compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR and HIPAA that require safeguarding user information against unauthorized access or disclosure.
However, the provided information does not explicitly detail the direct compliance impact or specific regulatory breaches resulting from this vulnerability.