CVE-2026-3481 MEDIUM

CVE-2026-3481: WP Blockade <= 0.9.14 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via 'shortcode' Parameter

Vendor Burlingtonbytes
Product WP Blockade – Visual Page Builder
Weakness CWE-79 · XSS
Published May 22, 2026
Last update May 22, 2026

CVSS base score

6.1/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required None
User interaction Required
Confidentiality Low
Integrity Low

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

What the vulnerability does

01Description

The WP Blockade plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the 'shortcode' parameter in all versions up to and including 0.9.14. This is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the render_shortcode_preview() function. The function receives user input from $_GET['shortcode'], passes it through stripslashes() without any sanitization, and then outputs it directly via echo do_shortcode($shortcode) on line 393. When the input is not a valid WordPress shortcode (e.g., an HTML tag with JavaScript event handlers), do_shortcode() returns it unchanged, and it is reflected into the page without escaping. The endpoint is registered via admin_post_ (not admin_post_nopriv_), meaning it requires the user to be logged in with at minimum a Subscriber-level account. There is no nonce verification or additional capability check. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking a link.

Explanation of Vulnerability in Simple Terms

02Summary

WP Blockade contains a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in versions up to 0.9.14. An attacker can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors or administrators. The vulnerability requires user interaction—typically clicking a malicious link or visiting a crafted page. The impact extends beyond the plugin itself to affect the broader site.

What an attacker can do

03Attacker Capabilities

Inject malicious scripts that run in visitors' browsers, potentially stealing session tokens or redirecting users.

Potential impact on your site

04Site Impact

Visitors and admins could be redirected, have sessions hijacked, or see defaced content without your knowledge.

Conditions required to exploit

05Prerequisites

No authentication required. Victim must click a link or visit a page containing the malicious payload.

Key dates

06Disclosure timeline

May 22, 2026 CVE published
May 22, 2026 Record updated