CVE-2026-96561
Received Received - Intake

Stored XSS in AI Engine WordPress Plugin

Publication date: 2026-10-01

Last updated on: 2026-10-01

Assigner: Wordfence

Description
The AI Engine – The Chatbot, AI Framework & MCP for WordPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting in versions up to, and including, 3.8.0 This is due to a chain of missing input neutralization and output escaping across the /mwai-ui/v1/chats/submit REST endpoint, the PHP error-log parser (MeowKit_MWAI_Helpers::php_error_logs), the Advisor task (Meow_MWAI_Modules_Advisor::run_advisor), and the Advisor dashboard widget (advisor_metabox): the server-parameter denylist in chat_submit strips only exact key names such as 'model' while convert_keys() later canonicalizes 'model_' back to 'model', allowing an unauthenticated caller to place an attacker-controlled string (including CR/LF) into $query->model; final_checks() throws an Exception whose message embeds that raw string, and the non-streaming, non-admin catch branch writes it to the PHP error log unmodified — creating a forged log line that the plugin's own parser subsequently returns as recent PHP-error content; run_advisor() then appends that content verbatim to the AI prompt (indirect prompt injection — CWE-1427), the returned JSON is stored in the mwai_advisor_data option with no schema validation or HTML sanitization, and advisor_metabox() concatenates the resulting 'title' and 'description' values directly into the WordPress dashboard widget without esc_html(), wp_kses(), or equivalent escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever an administrator accesses the WordPress dashboard.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
Percentile:

Meta Information

Published
2026-10-01
Last Modified
2026-10-01
Generated
2026-10-01
AI Q&A
2026-10-01
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-96561
EUVD
EUVD-2026-90465

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
meowapps ai_engine to 3.8.0 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
CWE Icon
KEV
KEV Icon
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 Quick Actions

Instant insights powered by AI
Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) flaw in the AI Engine WordPress plugin. It allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into WordPress pages by exploiting improper input sanitization and output escaping in multiple plugin components. The attack chain involves manipulating REST endpoints, error logs, and AI prompts to store and execute arbitrary code.

Detection Guidance

Check WordPress plugin versions for 'AI Engine – The Chatbot, AI Framework & MCP' up to 3.8.0. Inspect server logs for unusual PHP error entries containing injected scripts. Review WordPress dashboard widgets for unexpected content in the advisor section.

Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to steal sensitive data like cookies or session tokens, deface your website, or redirect users to malicious sites. Administrators viewing the WordPress dashboard could unknowingly trigger the injected scripts, leading to potential account compromise or further malware infections.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could violate GDPR by exposing user data through script injection or failing to protect personal data. For HIPAA, it may compromise protected health information if the WordPress site handles such data. Non-compliance risks fines, legal action, and reputational damage due to inadequate security controls.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the 'AI Engine – The Chatbot, AI Framework & MCP' plugin to the latest version. Disable the plugin if updates are unavailable. Monitor server logs for suspicious activity. Implement input validation and output escaping in WordPress configurations.

Chat Assistant

Ask questions about this CVE
Hi! I’m here to help you understand CVE-2026-96561. Ask me anything about the vulnerability, its impact, or mitigation strategies.
0/70

EPSS Chart