Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Admin-level privilege required to inject payload (PR:H); victim must load the page (UI:R); no direct availability impact identified for DOM XSS here.
Primary rating from Vendor (Patchstack).
CVSS VectorVendor: Patchstack
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Ashish Ajani WP Simple HTML Sitemap wp-simple-html-sitemap allows DOM-Based XSS.This issue affects WP Simple HTML Sitemap: from n/a through <= 3.8.
AnalysisAI
DOM-Based XSS in WP Simple HTML Sitemap WordPress plugin (all versions through 3.8) allows high-privilege authenticated attackers to inject client-side scripts that execute in a victim's browser context when they visit the affected sitemap page. The CVSS vector (PR:H/UI:R/S:C) confirms that exploitation is constrained by admin-level access and required victim interaction, materially limiting real-world impact. No active exploitation is confirmed - EPSS sits at 0.03% (8th percentile) and SSVC classifies exploitation as none with partial technical impact.
Technical ContextAI
WP Simple HTML Sitemap is a WordPress plugin authored by Ashish Ajani (CPE: cpe:2.3:a:ashish_ajani:wp_simple_html_sitemap:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*) that generates HTML sitemaps for WordPress sites. The root cause is CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), specifically the DOM-Based XSS variant, meaning attacker-supplied data is written to the browser DOM by client-side JavaScript without adequate sanitization. Unlike reflected or stored XSS processed server-side, DOM-Based XSS payloads may never traverse the server, potentially bypassing server-side WAF rules that inspect HTTP responses. The Scope:Changed metric in the CVSS vector indicates the injected script can affect resources outside the plugin's own origin context.
RemediationAI
No exact patched version number is confirmed in the available data - the vulnerability spans all releases through 3.8, but a fixed release beyond 3.8 is not named in any current reference. Administrators should check the WordPress plugin repository for an update beyond version 3.8 and apply it immediately upon availability. As an interim compensating control, restrict WordPress administrator role assignments to the minimum required personnel, reducing the pool of users who could inject a payload. If the HTML sitemap feature is not actively required, deactivating or fully removing the WP Simple HTML Sitemap plugin eliminates exposure without side effects. Monitor the Patchstack advisory page (https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/wp-simple-html-sitemap/vulnerability/wordpress-wp-simple-html-sitemap-plugin-3-8-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cve) for patch confirmation.
Same weakness CWE-79 – Cross-site Scripting (XSS)
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-20321
GHSA-5hwx-hv3g-4j7m