CVE-2026-15292 in Sudoku Shortcode Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/10/2026
The Sudoku Shortcode plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'background' parameter in the 'sudoku-sc' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.0 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-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 • 07/10/2026
The Sudoku Shortcode plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 1.0.0. This security flaw resides within the 'sudoku-sc' shortcode implementation where the 'background' parameter fails to undergo proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets authenticated attackers who possess Contributor-level access or higher privileges within the WordPress environment, enabling them to exploit this weakness through the plugin's shortcode functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker with sufficient privileges injects malicious script code into the 'background' parameter of the sudoku-sc shortcode. This injection is then stored within the WordPress database and subsequently executed whenever any user accesses a page containing the vulnerable shortcode. The flaw represents a classic stored XSS attack vector where user-supplied input is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in the web application's output. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, or updates an existing web page with user-supplied data without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities including but not limited to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of content, and redirection to malicious sites. Since contributors and higher-level users can leverage this vulnerability, it poses a significant risk to WordPress installations where multiple users have elevated permissions. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, the malicious scripts persist until manually removed, creating ongoing security risks for all users who view affected pages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the Sudoku Shortcode plugin to version 1.0.1 or later where the input sanitization and output escaping issues have been addressed. Administrators should also implement proper access controls to limit contributor-level privileges to only trusted users, as well as conduct regular security audits of installed plugins. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers as an additional defense-in-depth measure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output escaping in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications through techniques like cross-site scripting to gain unauthorized access to systems or data.