CVE-2026-6178 in Betheme Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
The Betheme theme for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the theme's 'icon_box_2' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 28.4 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 • 08/26/2026
The Betheme WordPress theme contains a critical security flaw classified as Stored Cross-Site Scripting within the icon_box_2 shortcode functionality across all versions up to 28.4. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms applied to user-supplied attributes associated with this specific shortcode. The technical root cause lies in the failure of the theme's code to properly validate or encode special characters before rendering them into HTML content, allowing malicious scripts to be embedded directly into page structures without triggering browser security filters that would typically block such injections.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables authenticated attackers who possess contributor-level access and above to inject arbitrary web scripts into published pages. Unlike reflected XSS where the payload is delivered via a link, stored XSS persists on the server side within the database or post content. Consequently, every user who accesses a page containing the malicious shortcode will have their browser execute the injected script automatically. This persistence transforms the vulnerability from a targeted attack vector into a widespread threat capable of affecting numerous visitors without requiring further interaction with the attacker after the initial injection.
The impact of this exploitation is severe and multifaceted. Attackers can hijack user sessions by stealing cookies or authentication tokens, leading to unauthorized access to administrative accounts if those users have elevated privileges. Furthermore, the injected scripts can be used to deface websites, redirect traffic to malicious phishing sites designed to harvest credentials, or distribute malware through drive-by downloads. The ability to execute arbitrary JavaScript effectively compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of both the website content and its user base, undermining trust in the platform's security posture.
In terms of industry standards, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation commonly known as Cross-site Scripting. Specifically, it represents a stored variant where malicious data is saved on the target server rather than being passed via URL parameters or form submissions alone. From an offensive security framework perspective, such exploitation techniques map to ATT&CK T1059 Command and Control scripting using JavaScript for lateral movement and credential theft within web application environments. The lack of proper output escaping corresponds directly to CWE-80 Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page which allows scripts to execute in the context of other users.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hygiene. Administrators should immediately update the Betheme theme to version 29 or later where this issue has been resolved by implementing robust sanitization functions like wp_kses_post for input validation and proper escaping functions such as esc_attr or esc_html for output rendering. For sites unable to upgrade instantly, temporary workarounds include restricting contributor-level access to trusted individuals only and employing a Web Application Firewall configured with rules that detect and block XSS payloads in post content fields. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can help mitigate the impact of any successful injection by restricting the sources from which scripts are allowed to execute, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the malicious code even if it is stored on the server.