Security Alert Summary
The Dynamic Widget Content plugin for WordPress contains a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Gutenberg editor sidebar widget content field. Authenticated users with Contributor-level access and above can inject scripts that will execute when an injected page is viewed. The issue is caused by insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of user-supplied attributes.
CVE Details
- CVE ID:
CVE-2026-1268 - Affected component: Dynamic Widget Content plugin for WordPress
- Affected versions: All versions up to, and including, 1.3.6
- Published: February 5, 2026 at 07:16:17 AM UTC
- Last modified: February 5, 2026 at 02:57:20 PM UTC
- CVSS v3.1: Base Score 6.4, Severity: MEDIUM
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - Authentication / Privileges / Interaction: Requires an authenticated user with low privileges (e.g., Contributor-level access or higher). No user interaction is required to trigger the vulnerability once malicious content is stored.
- Primary impact: Confidentiality: Low; Integrity: Low; Availability: None
- Weakness (CWE): CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation – Cross-site Scripting)
Technical Details
This is a stored (persistent) cross-site scripting vulnerability in the widget content field exposed in the Gutenberg editor sidebar. The plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied attributes for widget content, allowing authenticated users with Contributor-level access and above to store malicious JavaScript in pages or widgets. When a site visitor or another authenticated user views a page containing the injected content, the script can execute in the context of that user’s browser.
The root cause is insufficient input validation and missing or incomplete output escaping for attributes provided through the widget content input. The vulnerability lives in how user-supplied content is processed and rendered, permitting arbitrary script injection to be stored and later executed.
How This Could Impact Your Website
Consider a small site with multiple roles: a site owner, an internal content editor, and an external contributor who provides widget content. If a contributor inserts malicious content into a widget via the Gutenberg sidebar, that content can execute when other users view the page. Practical consequences include exposure of session-scoped data visible in the page DOM, unauthorized actions performed in the context of a logged-in user’s browser, or the ability to display phishing content to users.
Because the confidentiality and integrity impacts are rated as Low, an attacker’s ability is limited compared with higher-severity issues; this typically does not imply full site takeover. However, stored XSS can still enable targeted account abuse, credential theft via social engineering, or capture of information accessible in the browser session.
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 your setup.
Recommended Actions
- Update the affected plugin as soon as a patched version is available. (If a fixed version is not specified in the CVE entry, monitor the plugin’s official source for updates.)
- Review and reduce unnecessary user roles and permissions, especially contributor-level accounts.
- Enforce strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for editors and administrators.
- Remove unused or unmaintained plugins from your site.
- Monitor site activity and logs for unusual behavior, such as unexpected content changes in widgets or pages.
If you’d like help reviewing your plugins, user roles, or overall WordPress security posture, our team at Freshy is happy to help.
References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/dynamic-widget-content/tags/1.3.6/helpers/blocks.php#L64
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/dynamic-widget-content/tags/1.3.6/helpers/blocks.php#L70
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3444655%40dynamic-widget-content&new=3444655%40dynamic-widget-content&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/5324ca6d-37cb-41e4-8355-80ca113f855e?source=cve
