Simple Download Counter <= 2.3 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'text' Shortcode Attribute
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- 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 Simple Download Counter plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'sdc_menu' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 2.3. This is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied shortcode attributes, specifically the 'text' and 'cat' attributes. The 'text' attribute is output directly into HTML content on line 159 without any escaping (e.g., esc_html()). The 'cat' attribute is used unescaped in HTML class attributes on lines 135 and 157 without esc_attr(). This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-4278
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8gh3-66fr-4rwm
References
Other 10
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f23dec73-9031-4829-a84b-4979c8e8ded4?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/trunk/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L159
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/tags/2.3/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L159
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/trunk/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L135
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/tags/2.3/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L135
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/trunk/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L157
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/tags/2.3/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L157
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/trunk/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L92
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/tags/2.3/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L92
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3487364%40simple-download-counter&new=3487364%40simple-download-counter&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=
More specialk vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-01845 Simple Ajax Chat < 20240223 - Unauthenticated Stored XSS CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.1
- TI-2024-02296 Simple Ajax Chat < 20240412 - Admin+ Stored XSS CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.4
- TI-2024-04645 User Submitted Posts < 20240516 - Admin+ Stored XSS CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.8
- TI-2019-15241 User Submitted Posts <= 20190312 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-10732 WordPress Simple Ajax Chat plugin <= 20220115 - Sensitive Information Disclosure vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2023-24406 WordPress User Submitted Posts Plugin <= 20230902 is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Upload CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-4278 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-4278 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8gh3-66fr-4rwm · 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