Security Alert Summary
The Next Date WordPress plugin contains a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the default shortcode attribute in versions up to and including 1.0. Authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher can inject scripts via the shortcode attribute that will execute when a visitor or other user loads the affected page.
CVE Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2026-4920
- Affected component: Next Date plugin for WordPress
- Affected versions: All versions up to and including 1.0
- Published: May 12, 2026 at 9:16:54 AM
- Last modified: May 12, 2026 at 2:03:52 PM
- CVSS v3.1 Base Score: 6.4 (MEDIUM)
- CVSS v3.1 Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
- Authentication / Privileges / User interaction:
- Authentication: attacker must be authenticated (per description)
- Privileges Required: LOW (contributor-level access or above)
- User Interaction: NONE
- Primary impact: Confidentiality: LOW; Integrity: LOW; Availability: NONE
- CWE: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, i.e. Cross-Site Scripting)
Technical Details
The vulnerability is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue arising from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of user-supplied shortcode attributes. Specifically, the plugin’s default shortcode attribute can contain attacker-controlled content that is not properly sanitized before being rendered. Because the attribute value is stored in a post or page and later rendered on page load, injected scripts persist and execute in the context of any user who views the page.
The description indicates the problem is caused by lack of proper sanitization and escaping of attributes supplied to the shortcode. The vulnerability therefore allows authenticated users with low privileges (contributors or higher) to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages where the shortcode is used. Execution occurs when the injected page is accessed, allowing actions consistent with a stored XSS vulnerability, such as session token theft within the same origin or execution of JavaScript in the victim’s browser.
How This Could Impact Your Website
Consider a site with multiple roles: a site owner, internal staff editors, and external contributors or contractors who submit content. If a contributor is able to insert a malicious shortcode attribute, their injected script could run in the browsers of site editors or visitors who open the affected page. Practical consequences include exposure of session cookies or other browser-stored tokens for users who view the page, and the potential disclosure of data displayed on the page, such as internal user names or email addresses.
Even limited script execution can increase the risk of targeted phishing or social engineering against staff whose contact information becomes available or who interact with the affected pages. If you’re unsure whether your site is affected or how to assess your current user roles and plugins, it may be worth having a professional review.
Recommended Actions
- Update the affected plugin as soon as a patched version is available.
- Review and reduce unnecessary user roles and permissions, especially contributor accounts.
- Enforce strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for editor and administrator accounts.
- Remove unused or unmaintained plugins from the site.
- Monitor site activity and logs for unusual behavior, including unexpected post edits or shortcode usage.
If you’d like help reviewing your plugins, user roles, or overall WordPress security posture, our team at Freshy is happy to help.
