CVE-2026-17089
Received Received - Intake

Reflected Cross-Site Scripting in Events Manager WordPress Plugin

Publication date: 2026-08-25

Last updated on: 2026-08-25

Assigner: Wordfence

Description
The Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, and more! plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the 'header_format' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 7.4.0.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link. The shortcode entry point sanitizes 'header_format' via wp_kses(), but the unauthenticated 'search_events_grouped' AJAX action bypasses this sanitization entirely, leaving the parameter unsanitized before it is echoed into the HTML body in output_grouped().

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-25
Last Modified
2026-08-25
Generated
2026-08-25
AI Q&A
2026-08-25
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-17089
EUVD
EUVD-2026-65277

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
events_manager events_manager to 7.4.0.1 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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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.

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Executive Summary

The Events Manager WordPress plugin has a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in versions up to 7.4.0.1. The flaw exists in the 'header_format' parameter due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. Attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute when a user clicks a crafted link. The shortcode entry point sanitizes this parameter, but the unauthenticated 'search_events_grouped' AJAX action bypasses this sanitization, leaving the parameter unsanitized before being echoed into the HTML body.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability can be detected by checking if the Events Manager plugin version is up to 7.4.0.1 or lower. Inspect network traffic for reflected XSS attempts via the 'header_format' parameter in the 'search_events_grouped' AJAX action. Look for unsanitized input echoed in HTML responses.

Impact Analysis

Unauthenticated attackers can trick users into clicking malicious links, leading to arbitrary script execution in their browsers. This could result in session hijacking, defacement of web pages, or theft of sensitive user data. The impact is limited to reflected XSS, meaning the attack requires user interaction to succeed.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could potentially impact compliance with GDPR and HIPAA by enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages. If exploited, it may lead to unauthorized data access or manipulation, violating data protection requirements under these regulations.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update the Events Manager plugin to the latest version beyond 7.4.0.1. If an update is unavailable, consider disabling the plugin temporarily until a patch is released. Monitor for suspicious activity or unauthorized script injections in web traffic.

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