Skip to main content

Ad Inserter EUVDEUVD-2026-90572

| CVE-2026-89427 MEDIUM
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79)
2026-10-01 Wordfence GHSA-cjx2-r3r5-6cq4
6.1
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: Wordfence
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Craft link with XSS payload in 's' parameter
  2. Delivery
    Phish logged-in victim to click
  3. Exploit
    Search page reflects unsanitized {title} placeholder
  4. Execution
    Script executes in victim's session
  5. Impact
    Hijack session or perform actions as victim

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Output encoding, context-aware escaping
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires that a site administrator has configured at least one Ad Inserter block using the {title} or {short-title} placeholder with that block enabled for search pages - a standard, documented feature but NOT a default configuration. Additionally, per CVSS UI:R, a victim must be tricked into clicking an attacker-crafted search URL (the 's' parameter carries the payload). The attack is unauthenticated (PR:N) from the attacker's side, but these two gates - the specific block/placeholder configuration AND required victim interaction - substantially limit realistic exploitation. Affects all versions of Ad Inserter - Ad Manager & AdSense Ads (vendor: spacetime) up to and including 2.8.18; fixed in 2.8.19.

Impact

This is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting flaw rated CVSS 6.1 (Medium) with vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. The signals are internally consistent: network-exploitable, low complexity, no privileges required, but it mandates user interaction (UI:R) - the victim must click a crafted link - which meaningfully caps real-world impact to session-scoped script execution (C:L/I:L, scope-changed S:C as the payload crosses into the victim's authenticated browser context). Crucially, exploitation is further gated by a non-default server-side precondition: a site admin must have configured an Ad Inserter block using the {title} or {short-title} placeholder AND enabled it for search pages. No EPSS score, KEV listing, or POC is provided, so exploitation status is: no public exploit identified at time of analysis. This is NOT a drop-everything priority - it is a classic reflected XSS requiring both social engineering and a specific (though documented and legitimate) plugin configuration. Its main risk amplifier is the plugin's very large install base, which raises the number of potentially-affected sites even though per-site exploitability depends on configuration. Treat as routine-patch priority.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker crafts a malicious URL targeting the vulnerable site's search page with a JavaScript payload in the 's' search parameter and lures a logged-in user (e.g. an administrator) into clicking it via phishing. If the site has an Ad Inserter block using the {title}/{short-title} placeholder enabled on search pages, the unsanitized search term is reflected and the script executes in the victim's browser session. No public POC is referenced, and exploitation requires user interaction.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
No patch listed yet 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 01, 2026

Reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) in the Ad Inserter - Ad Manager & AdSense Ads WordPress plugin through 2.8.18 allows unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary script through the 's' search parameter, which executes in a victim's browser if they are tricked into clicking a crafted link. Real-world exploitation is constrained by two gates: an administrator must have configured at least one block using the {title} or {short-title} placeholder with that block enabled on search pages (a documented but non-default setting), and a victim must interact with the malicious URL (CVSS UI:R). No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and no EPSS score or CISA KEV entry was provided; the issue is fixed in version 2.8.19.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: upgrade the Ad Inserter plugin to version 2.8.19 or later, which contains the escaping/sanitization fix; confirm the update via the WordPress admin Plugins page or WP-CLI (wp plugin update ad-inserter). If immediate upgrading is not possible, disable the block(s) that use the {title} or {short-title} placeholder on search pages, or restrict those blocks from running on search-result templates - the trade-off is that intended ad output on search pages will be suppressed. As a temporary compensating control, deploy a WAF rule that rejects or escapes requests whose 's' parameter contains HTML/script metacharacters, but note this can break legitimate search queries and should be treated as a stopgap only. Because exploitation requires a victim to click a crafted search URL (UI:R), awareness and link-filtering measures help but do not replace patching. Reference the Wordfence advisory and the Trac 2.8.19 changeset for exact code changes.

Affected VersionsENISA

Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads 0 ≤2.8.18

Affected Packages

euvd ad_inserter_ad_manager_adsense_ads no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The flaw is a reflected XSS (CWE-79) in the WordPress plugin 'Ad Inserter - Ad Manager & AdSense Ads' (CPE cpe:2.3:a:spacetime:ad_inserter_-_ad_manager_&_adsense_ads), tracked as CVE-2026-89427 with assessed vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. WordPress passes search input via the 's' query parameter; when the plugin renders a block that uses the {title} or {short-title} placeholder on search-result pages, that user-supplied string is placed into the page without sufficient sanitization and output escaping, allowing script injection into the HTML response. Referenced source lines in ad-inserter.php (12903, 13012, 13081 at tag 2.8.18) point to the placeholder-handling and search-page rendering paths where the missing escaping occurs. The scope-change (S:C) reflects that the injected script runs in the origin of the affected WordPress site, not merely within a third-party ad frame.

Know when Wordpress Plugin gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

Vendor (Wordfence) PRIMARY 6.1 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
vuln.today AI 6.1 MEDIUM

Reflected XSS: network, low complexity, unauthenticated attacker, but requires victim click (UI:R); payload crosses into victim's browser context (S:C) with limited C/I impact and no availability effect.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (Wordfence).

CVSS VectorVendor: Wordfence

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

DescriptionCVE.org

The Ad Inserter - Ad Manager & AdSense Ads plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via 's' Search Parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.18 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link. Exploitation requires that a site administrator has configured at least one Ad Inserter block using the {title} or {short-title} placeholder with that block enabled for search pages, which is a standard, documented plugin feature.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 85% exploitable
Prevalence
High
Ad Inserter is one of the most widely-deployed WordPress ad-management plugins
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.3%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact· derived
High
Technical Impact
Partial

Priority Score

30
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +30
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Cross-Site Scripting occurs when an application accepts untrusted data and sends it to a web browser without proper validation or encoding.

CVE-2023-6553 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Dec 15

The Backup Migration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, 1

CVE-2024-5084 CRITICAL POC
9.8 May 23

The Hash Form - Drag & Drop Form Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to missing fil

CVE-2024-44000 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Oct 20

Authentication bypass in the LiteSpeed Cache WordPress plugin (versions prior to 6.5.0.1) allows unauthenticated remote

CVE-2020-36847 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jul 12

The Simple File List plugin for WordPress through version 4.2.2 contains an unauthenticated remote code execution vulner

CVE-2025-11749 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Nov 05

The AI Engine WordPress plugin through version 3.1.3 exposes Bearer Token values through the /mcp/v1/ REST API endpoint

CVE-2025-27007 CRITICAL POC
9.8 May 01

The SureTriggers WordPress plugin through version 1.0.82 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows unaut

CVE-2016-1209 CRITICAL POC
9.8 May 14

The Ninja Forms plugin before 2.9.42.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to conduct PHP object injection attacks via

CVE-2024-4443 CRITICAL POC
9.8 May 22

The Business Directory Plugin - Easy Listing Directories for WordPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based

CVE-2024-1698 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 27

SQL injection in the NotificationX WordPress plugin (versions up to and including 2.8.2) allows unauthenticated remote a

CVE-2023-6875 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 11

The POST SMTP Mailer - Email log, Delivery Failure Notifications and Best Mail SMTP for WordPress plugin for WordPress i

CVE-2024-1512 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 17

The MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin - for Online Courses and Education plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to union base

CVE-2024-4295 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jun 05

The Email Subscribers by Icegram Express plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the ‘hash’ parameter in

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy