CVE-2026-1252 in Events Listing Widget Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2026
The Events Listing Widget plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'Event URL' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.4 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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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2026
The Events Listing Widget plugin for WordPress presents a critical security vulnerability classified as CVE-2026-1252, which manifests as a stored cross-site scripting flaw affecting versions through 1.3.4. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of the 'Event URL' parameter, where inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms fail to properly validate or encode user-supplied data before storage and subsequent execution. The flaw specifically targets authenticated attackers who possess Author-level privileges or higher, enabling them to exploit this weakness within the WordPress administrative environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The stored aspect of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads are permanently saved within the application's database rather than being executed through a single request, making the attack more persistent and potentially more damaging. When an authenticated user accesses a page containing the injected script, the malicious code executes in the victim's browser context, creating a vector for various attack scenarios including session hijacking, data exfiltration, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2026-1252 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. Since the vulnerability requires only Author-level access, it represents a significant risk for sites where content creators or contributors have elevated privileges. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that even if the initial injection occurs during a single editing session, the malicious code will persist and execute whenever any user accesses affected pages, potentially compromising multiple users over time. This vulnerability undermines the integrity of the WordPress content management system and can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, modification of content, or exploitation of user sessions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures that sanitize all user-supplied data, particularly for URL parameters, and ensure that output escaping is properly applied before rendering content in web pages. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing role-based access controls to limit the privileges of users who can modify event listings, reducing the attack surface for potential XSS exploitation. The remediation process should also include regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unauthorized modifications, and implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in preventing cross-site scripting attacks, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework categories related to web application security and credential access.