CVE-2026-1649 in Community Events Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/18/2026
The Community Events plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'ce_venue_name' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.5.7 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-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 • 02/18/2026
The Community Events plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-1649 affecting versions through 1.5.7. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, specifically concerning the 'ce_venue_name' parameter. The flaw allows authenticated attackers possessing administrator-level privileges or higher to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever users access affected pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input submitted through the venue name field. When administrators or privileged users create or modify community events, the plugin processes the 'ce_venue_name' parameter without adequate sanitization measures. This insufficient validation creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious payloads can be stored in the database and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a stored XSS variant that differs from reflected XSS by its persistence in the application's data store rather than reliance on crafted URLs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe given the privileged access requirements and the potential for widespread execution. Attackers with administrator-level access can inject scripts that execute in the context of any user who views the affected event pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the WordPress installation. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payloads remain active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with persistent access to compromised systems. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566 for credential access and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as the injected scripts can be used to execute arbitrary code on victim machines.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-1649 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. System administrators should implement strict access controls and privilege separation to limit the number of users with administrator-level permissions. Additionally, monitoring for unusual administrative activities and implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities can provide additional layers of protection. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution and regularly audit plugin installations for security vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output escaping practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly focusing on preventing XSS through proper sanitization of user-supplied data before storage and rendering.