CVE-2026-1071 in Carta Online Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2026
The Carta Online plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via admin settings in all versions up to, and including, 2.13.0 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level permissions and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2026
The Carta Online plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-1071 affecting all versions through 2.13.0. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's administrative settings functionality. The flaw specifically targets WordPress multi-site installations where the unfiltered_html capability has been disabled, creating a dangerous attack surface for privileged users. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies it as a classic cross-site scripting weakness, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever affected pages are accessed.
Attackers exploiting this vulnerability must possess administrator-level permissions or higher within the WordPress environment, making it particularly concerning for organizations with compromised administrative accounts or insufficient privilege management. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts are permanently embedded in the plugin's settings and will execute every time a user accesses pages containing the injected content. This persistent execution model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the use of web shells and persistent backdoors through compromised administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the compromised WordPress environment. The vulnerability's restriction to multi-site installations with disabled unfiltered_html creates a specific attack vector that security professionals must monitor closely, as these configurations are common in enterprise and hosting environments where security hardening is prioritized. The attack requires authentication and administrative privileges, which means that successful exploitation typically indicates a compromise of administrative credentials or a lack of proper access controls.
Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the Carta Online plugin where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional security controls including monitoring for unauthorized administrative changes, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conducting regular security audits of plugin installations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping practices in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where privileged users can cause significant damage through script injection attacks. This case highlights the necessity of adhering to secure coding practices and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of such persistent vulnerabilities in content management systems.