Security Alert Summary
A reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability has been identified in the RSS Aggregator plugin for WordPress. The issue involves the template parameter and can allow unauthenticated attackers to inject and execute arbitrary web scripts in pages if a user is tricked into taking an action such as clicking a crafted link.
CVE Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2026-1216
- Affected component: The RSS Aggregator plugin for WordPress (described in the CVE entry as “The RSS Aggregator plugin for WordPress”)
- Affected versions: All versions up to, and including, 5.0.10
- Published: February 17, 2026 at 10:15:57 AM (as listed in the CVE entry)
- Last modified: February 17, 2026 at 10:15:57 AM (as listed in the CVE entry)
- CVSS v3.1: Base Score 7.2 — HIGH; Vector:
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - Authentication / Privileges / User interaction: No authentication required; Privileges required: None; User interaction: None
- Primary impact: Confidentiality: Low; Integrity: Low; Availability: None
- CWE / Weakness ID: CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting)
Technical Details
The vulnerability is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue that occurs via the template parameter. According to the CVE description, the plugin performs insufficient input sanitization and lacks appropriate output escaping for user-supplied attributes. As a result, attacker-supplied script content can be reflected in a page and executed in a victim’s browser when they follow a crafted link or perform a similarly triggered action.
References included in the CVE entry point to the plugin code (DisplaysStore.php) where the handling of display/template data takes place, indicating the problem relates to how user-controlled template input is processed and output. The vulnerability is reflected XSS — it requires an attacker to supply a payload that is immediately returned to a user (for example, in a query string or link) rather than stored for later retrieval.
How This Could Impact Your Website
In a realistic site scenario, an external contributor or attacker could craft a URL that embeds a malicious payload in the template parameter and send it to an internal staff member or site administrator. If the recipient clicks the link while authenticated to the site, the injected script could run in their browser context. Possible practical consequences include disclosure of information accessible to the user (for example, account-related data displayed in the page), and an increased risk of targeted phishing or social engineering that leverages recovered data such as names or email addresses.
For example, a site owner posts a draft feed display accessible to logged-in editors. An external contractor receives a link with a crafted template value; if that contractor clicks the link while logged in, the reflected payload could run and capture session-visible details or perform actions in the context of that user’s privileges (limited by the user’s role).
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. (The CVE entry states affected versions up to 5.0.10; a fixed version is not specified in the CVE entry.)
- Review and reduce unnecessary user roles, especially contributor/editor level accounts that can view or interact with feeds or displays.
- Enforce strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for editors and administrators.
- Remove unused or unmaintained plugins to reduce attack surface.
- Monitor site activity and logs for unusual behavior, such as unexpected requests that include suspicious query parameters.
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/wp-rss-aggregator/tags/5.0.10/core/src/Store/DisplaysStore.php#L106
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-rss-aggregator/trunk/core/src/Store/DisplaysStore.php#L106
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&new=3439384%40wp-rss-aggregator%2Ftrunk&old=3421137%40wp-rss-aggregator%2Ftrunk&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/47a10dd4-515c-42d9-82ea-c84f8f7574c5?source=cve
