Stored cross-site scripting in PO/MO Editor WordPress plugin
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 PO/MO Editor WordPress plugin through 1.4.2 lacks input sanitization and output escaping for the podata parameter, enabling stored cross-site scripting (CWE-79). An attacker with subscriber-level access or above can inject scripts that run when a user opens an injected page. The payload is served as a replacement .po/.mo translation file through the load_textdomain_mofile filter, replacing original core strings.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
The PO/MO Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'podata' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. The injected payload is loaded as a replacement .po/.mo translation file via the plugin's own load_textdomain_mofile filter, causing WordPress to serve the attacker-written translation in place of the original core strings.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dougwollison | PO/MO Editor | up to 1.4.2 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- PO/MO Editor Vendordougwollison Affected up to 1.4.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for PO/MO Editor.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Timeline
- 2026-10-14 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-97020
- 2026-10-14 Alias added: GHSA-5c2x-59qc-4m85
- 2026-10-14 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Other 6
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a06e1a22-f660-401b-bfbf-0064a9220c26?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/pomo-editor/trunk/includes/class-pomoeditor-manager.php#L177
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/pomo-editor/trunk/includes/class-pomoeditor-manager.php#L110
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/pomo-editor/trunk/includes/class-pomoeditor-manager.php#L115
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/pomo-editor/trunk/includes/class-pomoeditor-manager.php#L41
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/pomo-editor/trunk/includes/class-pomoeditor-system.php#L78
Sources
- CVE-2026-97020 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-97020 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5c2x-59qc-4m85 · 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