CVE-2026-93778 in Yelp Review Slider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/22/2026
The WP Yelp Review Slider plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Yelp Review Text (imported via wpyelp_download_source) in all versions up to, and including, 9.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. The malicious payload originates from an anonymous Yelp reviewer on a public platform and requires no WordPress account; it is introduced into the database during the site administrator's ordinary use of the plugin's Download Reviews feature, making the effective attacker unauthenticated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2026
The WP Yelp Review Slider plugin for WordPress versions up to 9.2 contains a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within its review import functionality. This flaw specifically affects data imported via the wpyelp_download_source function, which is designed to fetch and display customer reviews from Yelp on WordPress sites. The core technical issue lies in the failure of the plugin to properly validate or escape user-supplied content before storing it in the database and subsequently rendering it in web pages without adequate protection against script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim site's domain. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages an external, public platform as the source of malicious payloads. An attacker can post a review on Yelp containing embedded HTML or JavaScript scripts. When a WordPress administrator uses the plugin’s Download Reviews feature to import these reviews into their website, the unsanitized content from the Yelp review text field is stored directly in the site's database. This process effectively bypasses any need for direct access to the target WordPress installation, as the vulnerability is triggered by legitimate administrative actions rather than malicious exploitation of a login portal.
Once the malicious payload is persisted in the database, it becomes active whenever a user visits a page that displays these reviews. Since stored cross-site scripting attacks persist on the server side, every visitor who views the affected pages will have their browser execute the injected scripts. This can lead to severe consequences such as session hijacking, where attackers steal authentication cookies and take over user accounts; defacement of the website content; or redirection of users to phishing sites designed to harvest credentials. The lack of requirement for a WordPress account makes this vulnerability accessible to any individual with access to Yelp, significantly expanding the potential threat landscape beyond traditional authenticated attack vectors.
From an industry standards perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation commonly known as Cross-site Scripting. The specific mechanism of storing malicious data for later execution classifies it under Stored XSS rather than reflected or DOM-based variants. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this attack pattern corresponds to T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically through JavaScript execution in a browser environment. It also relates to T1189, Drive-by Compromise, as users are compromised simply by visiting infected pages without any direct interaction beyond viewing content.
Mitigation strategies for organizations using this plugin involve immediate updates to the latest patched version if available from the vendor. In cases where an update is not immediately feasible, administrators should implement strict input validation and output encoding at the application level before storing or displaying review data. Utilizing Content Security Policy headers can also help mitigate the impact by restricting the sources from which scripts are allowed to execute. Additionally, regular security audits of third-party plugins and monitoring for unusual database entries containing script tags can aid in early detection and response to such vulnerabilities.