CVE-2026-1912 in Citations tools Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2026
The Citations tools plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'code' parameter in the 'ctdoi' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 0.3.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. 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 • 02/20/2026
The Citations tools plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-1912, affecting all versions through 0.3.2. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of the 'ctdoi' shortcode and specifically targets the 'code' parameter. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being processed and stored within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects authenticated attackers who possess Contributor-level permissions or higher, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by users who already have significant access rights within the WordPress ecosystem. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts are persisted in the database and executed whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected content, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users over time.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode processing functions. When the 'code' parameter is passed to the 'ctdoi' shortcode, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the HTML output context. This creates an environment where malicious actors can inject JavaScript code that will execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view pages containing the vulnerable shortcode. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output escaping. The attack vector requires minimal privileges since contributors can execute this attack, indicating a significant security gap in WordPress's capability-based access controls for plugin functionality. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, data exfiltration, or redirection to malicious sites.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress sites utilizing the Citations tools plugin, particularly those with multiple contributors or users who may have elevated privileges. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts will persist and execute automatically for any user who accesses affected pages, creating a potential attack surface that can scale across multiple users. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, redirect visitors to phishing sites, or inject additional malicious content that could compromise the entire WordPress installation. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables both social engineering through crafted content and code execution within user browsers. Organizations using this plugin face potential data breaches, reputational damage, and compliance violations if user sessions are compromised through this attack vector.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of the Citations tools plugin to version 0.3.3 or later, which addresses the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as restricting contributor-level permissions where possible, implementing content security policies to limit script execution, and monitoring for unusual shortcode usage patterns. Regular security audits of installed plugins should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output escaping practices in web applications, particularly for plugins that handle user-supplied content. Security teams should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly identify and remediate similar stored XSS vulnerabilities in other plugins or custom code within their WordPress environments.