CVE-2026-66690 in GiveWP Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2026
Unauthenticated Cross Site Scripting (XSS) in GiveWP <= 4.16.5 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2026
The vulnerability identified as unauthenticated cross site scripting in GiveWP versions up to and including 4.16.5 represents a critical security flaw that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser without requiring authentication credentials. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the WordPress donation plugin, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the GiveWP plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that get stored or executed within the plugin's administrative interfaces or public-facing donation forms, leveraging the inherent trust users place in legitimate plugin functionality. This flaw specifically manifests when unfiltered data enters the system through various input points including form fields, URL parameters, or API endpoints that are subsequently displayed without adequate security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate donation records, and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no valid credentials are required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with access to the vulnerable website. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross site scripting as the improper handling of user-provided data that results in execution of arbitrary code within a victim's browser context.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to utilize techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on initial access and privilege escalation phases. The exploitation can occur through various means including crafted donation forms, malicious plugin parameters, or by leveraging stored XSS vulnerabilities within the plugin's data handling mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected GiveWP installations to version 4.16.6 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish robust input validation protocols for all user-supplied data within WordPress environments. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits of third-party plugins can significantly reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities affecting the overall security posture of WordPress installations.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper security practices in plugin development, particularly regarding input validation and output encoding. Organizations relying on GiveWP or similar donation platforms must ensure they maintain up-to-date software versions and conduct regular security assessments to identify potential weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors targeting their web applications.