WP Content Permission is a plugin used in WordPress for managing user permissions and access levels to specific content. It's predominantly utilized by website administrators aiming to restrict access to pages or posts based on user roles. This plugin is popular among developers and webmasters who need granular access control in their WordPress sites. By integrating with the WordPress framework, it enhances site security by controlling content visibility. Often employed in corporate, blogging, and educational websites, this plugin ensures that only authorized users can view or interact with designated content. It supports various WordPress versions and is a key component of site management for users needing detailed permission settings.
This Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability allows authenticated administrators to inject arbitrary scripts into web pages. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input sanitization of the 'ohmem-message' parameter in versions up to and including 1.2. Attackers exploiting this flaw can execute malicious scripts in the context of another user's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables persistent script execution on pages visited by other admins and users. XSS attacks can lead to a variety of security issues including session hijacking, defacement, and data theft. This vulnerability impacts websites using the identified vulnerable plugin versions, and administrators with the ability to inject scripts pose a significant risk.
The vulnerability is found in the 'ohmem-message' parameter, which lacks proper sanitization and output escaping. This oversight allows stored XSS attacks where JavaScript or HTML code can be inserted maliciously. The primary endpoint affected is at the admin configuration page, where this parameter is processed without adequate checks. Exploitation requires administrator-level privileges but can affect all users who interact with compromised pages. The parameter is part of the HTTP POST data submitted by authenticated admin users. No further user interaction is required after the script injection for it to execute in the context of anyone viewing the injected content. Proper remediation involves upgrading the plugin to a secure version post-1.2.
If the XSS vulnerability is exploited, malicious actors can gain significant leverage over affected websites. The effects can include unauthorized access to user sessions, data theft, or the installation of other malicious code on the site. Compromised accounts might enable attackers to escalate privileges or track user activities. In some cases, it could lead to a complete compromise of user trust if sensitive data is displayed or altered. Additional impacts could include blacklisting of the website by search engines or security services, degrading the site's reputation. Ultimately, attackers can manipulate site content or perform actions on behalf of affected user accounts.
REFERENCES
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/e44403cd-1cee-43c4-aabc-3eaad433c020?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-content-permission/tags/1.2/admin/views/admin.php#L74
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-content-permission/trunk/admin/views/admin.php#L74
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-0743
- Upgrade WP Content Permission to a version higher than 1.2 to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Implement stricter input validation and output escaping practices in plugin development to prevent future XSS vulnerabilities.
- Conduct regular security audits of plugins, especially those handling sensitive permissions and user roles.
- Monitor website activities for unusual patterns that might indicate an XSS attempt.
- Consider using a security plugin that provides an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks.
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