CVE-2026-85653
Received Received - Intake

Stored XSS in Contextual Related Posts WordPress Plugin

Publication date: 2026-09-22

Last updated on: 2026-09-22

Assigner: Wordfence

Description
The Contextual Related Posts plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'other_attributes' Block Parameter in all versions up to, and including, 4.4.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with author-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-22
Last Modified
2026-09-22
Generated
2026-09-22
AI Q&A
2026-09-22
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-85653
EUVD
EUVD-2026-84272

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
contextual_related_posts contextual_related_posts to 4.4.1 (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

This vulnerability is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue in the Contextual Related Posts WordPress plugin. It allows authenticated attackers with author-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into web pages via the 'other_attributes' block parameter. The flaw exists due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in versions up to 4.4.1.

Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability, inspect WordPress sites using the Contextual Related Posts plugin versions up to 4.4.1. Check for unauthorized scripts in pages or posts, particularly via the 'other_attributes' parameter. Review server logs for suspicious activity or unexpected script injections.

Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts in pages visited by users. This may lead to unauthorized actions on behalf of users, theft of sensitive data, or defacement of web pages. Users with author-level access or higher are required to exploit this issue.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to data breaches, which may violate GDPR and HIPAA compliance requirements. Unauthorized script execution may expose user data, triggering legal and regulatory penalties for non-compliance with data protection standards.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update the Contextual Related Posts plugin to the latest version beyond 4.4.1. Remove or restrict author-level access to users who do not require it. Scan your WordPress installation for malicious scripts or unauthorized changes.

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