CVE-2026-112838 in VikRentCar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2026
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in e4jvikwp VikRentCar vikrentcar allows Stored XSS.This issue affects VikRentCar: from n/a through 1.4.8.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2026
The identified security flaw represents a classic instance of Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, commonly known as Cross-Site Scripting or XSS. Specifically, this vulnerability manifests as a Stored XSS within the VikRentCar plugin for WordPress, affecting versions ranging from n/a through 1.4.8. Unlike reflected XSS attacks where malicious scripts are embedded in URLs and executed only when a victim clicks a specific link, stored vulnerabilities persist on the target server. In this context, an attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code into data fields that are subsequently saved to the application's database. When other users or administrators access pages containing this tainted data, the browser executes the injected script automatically, leading to persistent compromise of user sessions and potentially the entire web application environment.
The technical root cause lies in insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the VikRentCar plugin codebase. The software fails to properly sanitize special characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and ampersands before storing them in the database or rendering them back into HTML content without appropriate escaping. This oversight allows an attacker who has access to any user-facing input field—such as booking forms, comment sections, profile settings, or administrative entry points—to embed executable script tags within their submissions. Because the data is stored server-side, every subsequent page load that displays this information becomes a vector for attack, amplifying the impact far beyond what would be possible with transient injection methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its persistent nature and potential reach across multiple users. An attacker can steal session cookies, which may allow them to hijack active sessions of other users or even administrators if they possess sufficient privileges. This capability facilitates unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, including personal identification information, payment details, and booking histories stored within the WordPress database. Furthermore, attackers can perform actions on behalf of victims without their knowledge, such as modifying rental bookings, changing account settings, or defacing public-facing pages by injecting malicious content that appears legitimate to end-users. In environments where VikRentCar is used for business operations, this leads directly to financial loss, reputational damage, and potential regulatory non-compliance regarding data protection standards like GDPR.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'). The specific behavior of storing malicious payloads for later execution corresponds closely to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007: JavaScript, which is often leveraged in web application attacks to execute client-side code. Additionally, if the attacker uses this access to escalate privileges by manipulating administrative functions via stored scripts, it may also relate to CWE-269: Improvement of Privileges or CWE-862: Missing Authorization, depending on the specific exploitation path taken after initial script execution.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate remediation and long-term defensive coding practices. The primary action is to upgrade VikRentCar to a version later than 1.4.8 where this vulnerability has been patched by the developers through rigorous input sanitization and output encoding protocols. For organizations unable to update immediately, implementing a Web Application Firewall can provide temporary protection by filtering out requests containing known XSS payloads before they reach the application logic. Developers should also adopt secure coding standards that mandate context-aware output encoding for all dynamic content rendered in HTML contexts. This includes using functions like htmlspecialchars with appropriate flags or leveraging modern framework features that automatically escape variables to prevent script injection. Regular security audits and penetration testing are essential to identify similar flaws in other plugins or custom code within the WordPress ecosystem, ensuring a robust defense-in-depth posture against web-based attacks.