CVE-2026-65447 in Contest Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
Unauthenticated Cross Site Scripting (XSS) in Contest Gallery <= 30.0.6 versions.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
This vulnerability represents an unauthenticated cross site scripting flaw that affects the Contest Gallery plugin version 30.0.6 and earlier. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data, particularly in gallery-related functionalities where visitors can submit or interact with content without proper authentication requirements. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code through various input vectors including gallery titles, descriptions, or comment fields that are subsequently rendered on web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this flaw typically involves the plugin failing to properly escape or filter user-provided content before displaying it in HTML contexts. When legitimate users view gallery entries containing malicious scripts, these payloads execute within their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no authentication credentials to exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including stealing cookies, modifying page content, redirecting users to phishing sites, or even executing arbitrary commands if the victim's browser has elevated privileges. The attack surface is significant since contest gallery plugins often allow user-generated content submission and display, creating multiple potential injection points throughout the application interface. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation in web applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing interfaces within the plugin. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user inputs using established libraries or frameworks that properly escape HTML, javascript, and other potentially dangerous characters before rendering content. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies can help prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if injection attempts occur. Regular updates to the plugin should be enforced, as this vulnerability has been addressed in versions beyond 30.0.6 according to standard software lifecycle management practices.
Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block known XSS attack patterns targeting this specific plugin. Monitoring for unusual content submissions or user behavior patterns may help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command execution through web interfaces, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on contest gallery functionality. Organizations should prioritize patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates while maintaining proper access controls and user validation mechanisms throughout their web applications.