CVE-2026-2431 in CM Custom Reports Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2026
The CM Custom Reports plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the 'date_from' and 'date_to' parameters in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.7 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2026
The CM Custom Reports plugin for WordPress presents a significant security vulnerability classified as reflected cross-site scripting that affects versions up to and including 1.2.7. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's handling of date parameters. The flaw specifically impacts the 'date_from' and 'date_to' parameters, which are commonly used in reporting functionalities to filter data based on temporal criteria. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs containing script payloads in these parameters, which then get reflected back to users who access the compromised pages.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation in web applications, making it a classic reflected XSS attack vector. The vulnerability operates under the principle that user-supplied input is not adequately validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages, creating an environment where malicious scripts can execute in the context of the victim's browser. This type of attack typically requires social engineering elements to succeed, as attackers must convince users to click on malicious links that contain the crafted payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to potentially perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even modify page content. Since the vulnerability affects an unauthenticated attack vector, any user visiting a page containing the malicious parameters could be compromised without requiring any prior authentication or privileges. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WordPress plugins often handle sensitive data and user information, making this vulnerability potentially dangerous for websites that rely on the plugin for business reporting or analytics purposes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. The plugin developers should sanitize all user inputs, particularly date parameters, by validating their format and ensuring they conform to expected patterns before processing. Additionally, output escaping must be implemented to prevent any potentially malicious content from executing when rendered in web pages. Security measures should include input filtering that removes or encodes special characters that could be used in scripting attacks, along with proper HTML escaping of dynamic content. Organizations using this plugin should immediately update to the latest version once available, implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, and conduct regular security audits of their WordPress installations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those related to input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks. This issue demonstrates how seemingly simple parameter handling can create significant security risks that require comprehensive defensive measures across multiple layers of the application stack.