What the vulnerability does
01Description
The Same Category Posts plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the widget title placeholder functionality in all versions up to, and including, 1.1.19. This is due to the use of `htmlspecialchars_decode()` on taxonomy term names before output, which decodes HTML entities that WordPress intentionally encodes for safety. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Author-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
Explanation of Vulnerability in Simple Terms
02Summary
Same Category Posts versions 1.1.19 and earlier contain a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability. An authenticated user with low privileges can inject malicious scripts that execute in other users' browsers when they view affected pages. The vulnerability requires user interaction and can affect the confidentiality and integrity of site data.
What an attacker can do
03Attacker Capabilities
Inject malicious scripts that run in other users' browsers to steal data or perform actions on their behalf.
Potential impact on your site
04Site Impact
Authenticated users can inject scripts affecting other visitors; may lead to credential theft, malware distribution, or unauthorized actions.
Conditions required to exploit
05Prerequisites
Attacker must have a low-privilege account on the site; victim must view a page containing the injected script.
Key dates
06Disclosure timeline
January 24, 2026
CVE published
April 8, 2026
Record updated
