CVE-2026-101925 in Bbp Style Pack Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
The bbp style pack plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'display_name (via /wp-admin/profile.php) + bbp_reply_content (via bbPress reply form)' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 6.4.8 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. Successful exploitation requires the attacker to wrap their crafted reply in a <pre> block, which prevents WordPress's wpautop/wptexturize processors from converting straight double quotes in the stored display name into typographic curly-quote entities that would otherwise neutralize the attribute-injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The bbp style pack plugin for WordPress contains a critical security vulnerability classified as Stored Cross-Site Scripting, which affects all versions up to and including 6.4.8. This flaw stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the application logic that handles user profile data and forum replies. Specifically, the vulnerability involves two distinct parameters: the display_name field accessed via the WordPress administrative interface at wp-admin/profile.php, and the bbp_reply_content parameter utilized by the bbPress reply form. The combination of these inputs creates a vector where malicious scripts can be persisted in the database rather than being executed only during immediate request processing, thereby increasing the potential blast radius of an attack significantly compared to reflected XSS variants.
The technical root cause lies in how the plugin processes and renders user-supplied data without adequate validation or encoding. When an authenticated attacker with subscriber-level access or higher modifies their display name to include malicious JavaScript payloads, this content is stored directly into the database. Subsequently, when a victim views a page containing a reply authored by the compromised account, the application fails to properly escape special characters before rendering them in the browser context. This lack of proper output encoding allows the injected scripts to execute within the security context of the logged-in user who views the content. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it leverages standard WordPress text processing functions like wpautop and wptexturize, which typically convert straight double quotes into typographic curly-quote entities that would normally neutralize attribute injection attempts.
Exploitation requires a specific circumvention technique where the attacker must wrap their crafted reply in a preformatted block using HTML tags. This structural choice prevents WordPress's automatic text processing functions from applying their default quote conversion logic, effectively bypassing one layer of built-in protection. By maintaining straight double quotes within this context, the attacker can successfully inject arbitrary web scripts into pages that are subsequently viewed by other users. The operational impact is severe, as successful exploitation enables attackers to steal session cookies, hijack user sessions, perform actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious sites. Since the payload is stored in the database, it persists until manually removed from the system, potentially affecting numerous visitors over an extended period without further interaction from the attacker.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation commonly known as Cross-site Scripting. Furthermore, in terms of tactical mapping within the MITRE ATT&CK framework for enterprise security, this behavior corresponds to T1059, Command and Control via User Interface Execution, specifically through browser-based script execution that can lead to credential theft or lateral movement if combined with other techniques such as cookie stealing (T1539). The requirement for authenticated access classifies it under initial access vectors where low-privilege accounts are leveraged to achieve higher impact outcomes.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate remediation by updating the bbp style pack plugin to a version newer than 6.4.8, assuming the vendor has released a patch that addresses these sanitization and escaping issues. In environments where an update is not immediately feasible, administrators can implement temporary compensating controls such as deploying Web Application Firewall rules designed to detect and block XSS payloads in profile fields and reply content. Additionally, enforcing strict Content Security Policy headers can help mitigate the impact of successful exploitation by restricting script execution sources. Regular security audits focusing on input validation and output encoding practices across all custom plugins are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in other parts of the WordPress ecosystem.