Cross-site scripting in arnoesterhuizen Allow HTML in Category Descriptions
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Cross-site scripting
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-79.
Summary
The Allow HTML in Category Descriptions plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via category descriptions in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.4. This is due to the plugin unconditionally removing the `wp_kses_data` output filter for term_description, link_description, link_notes, and user_description fields without checking user capabilities. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in category descriptions that will execute whenever a user accesses a page where the category description is displayed. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| arnoesterhuizen | Allow HTML in Category Descriptions | up to 1.2.4 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Allow HTML in Category Descriptions Vendorarnoesterhuizen Affected up to 1.2.4 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-0693
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f4qw-9xx8-rwgr
References
Other 3
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b63c9a5a-fa3e-46c7-9d9c-7c209fc5713a?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/allow-html-in-category-descriptions/trunk/html-in-category-descriptions.php#L23
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/allow-html-in-category-descriptions/tags/1.2.4/html-in-category-descriptions.php#L23
Sources
- CVE-2026-0693 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-0693 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f4qw-9xx8-rwgr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences