CVE-2026-5231

CVE-2026-5231 is a high-severity vulnerability with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-79.

Key facts

Description

The WP Statistics plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'utm_source' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 14.16.4. This is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. The plugin's referral parser copies the raw utm_source value into the source_name field when a wildcard channel domain matches, and the chart renderer later inserts this value into legend markup via innerHTML without escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in admin pages that will execute whenever an administrator accesses the Referrals Overview or Social Media analytics pages.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-5231?
The WP Statistics plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'utm_source' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 14.16.4. This is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. The plugin's referral parser copies the raw utm_source value into the source_name field when a wildcard channel domain matches, and the chart renderer later inserts this value into legend markup via innerHTML without escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in admin pages that will execute whenever an administrator accesses the Referrals Overview or Social Media analytics pages.
How severe is CVE-2026-5231?
CVE-2026-5231 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability none.
Is CVE-2026-5231 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2026-5231?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2026-5231 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2026-5231 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-23342.
When was CVE-2026-5231 published?
CVE-2026-5231 was published on 2026-04-17 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Other CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting (XSS)) vulnerabilities

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