CVE-2026-9714 Overview
CVE-2026-9714 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Simple Divi Shortcode plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.2. The flaw resides in the showmodule_shortcode() function, which concatenates the id attribute of the [showmodule] shortcode directly into a dynamically constructed shortcode string. Because the plugin omits esc_attr() and any equivalent escaping, an authenticated attacker with contributor-level access or above can break out of the attribute context and inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript. Injected scripts execute in the browser of any user who views the affected page. The issue is categorized under CWE-79.
Critical Impact
Authenticated contributors can persist arbitrary JavaScript into WordPress pages, enabling session theft, privilege escalation through admin interaction, and site defacement.
Affected Products
- Simple Divi Shortcode plugin for WordPress, versions ≤ 1.2
- WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin with contributor-level or higher user accounts
- Fixed in Simple Divi Shortcode version 1.2.1
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-29 - CVE-2026-9714 published to NVD
- 2026-05-29 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-9714
Vulnerability Analysis
The Simple Divi Shortcode plugin exposes a [showmodule] shortcode that accepts an id attribute and uses it to construct another shortcode internally. The showmodule_shortcode() handler concatenates the user-supplied id value directly into a string that is then processed by WordPress's do_shortcode() function. Because the attribute value is never passed through esc_attr(), sanitize_text_field(), or any equivalent filter, an attacker can supply a value containing quote characters and additional HTML markup. The crafted payload escapes the intended attribute boundary and introduces attacker-controlled HTML into the rendered page output.
Any visitor who loads a page containing the malicious shortcode triggers execution of the injected script in their browser session. Because WordPress contributors can author and save posts containing shortcodes, the attack persists in the database and runs each time the post is viewed by an administrator, editor, or unauthenticated visitor (once published).
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input sanitization and output escaping in the showmodule_shortcode() function. Shortcode attributes are treated as trusted strings and interpolated into a secondary shortcode without context-aware encoding, violating WordPress's documented practice of escaping late and escaping for the appropriate context.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires an authenticated account with contributor privileges or higher. The attacker creates or edits a post containing [showmodule id="<malicious payload>"], where the payload terminates the attribute quote and appends arbitrary HTML such as <script> tags or event handler attributes. When the post is rendered, the injected script executes in the victim's browser under the site's origin, enabling cookie theft, CSRF against authenticated administrators, or redirection to attacker-controlled infrastructure. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the WordPress Plugin Code Snippet for the vulnerable lines.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-9714
Indicators of Compromise
- Post or page content containing [showmodule shortcodes with embedded quote characters, angle brackets, <script> tags, or on*= event handler attributes in the id parameter
- Unexpected outbound requests from visitor browsers to third-party domains after rendering pages that use the Simple Divi Shortcode plugin
- New or modified posts authored by contributor-level accounts containing unusually long or obfuscated shortcode attributes
Detection Strategies
- Query the wp_posts table for post_content LIKE '%[showmodule%' and inspect returned rows for suspicious id attribute values
- Review WordPress audit logs for posts created or edited by contributor accounts immediately followed by attempted publication or administrative review
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that flags requests submitting shortcode attributes containing <, >, or quote-breaking sequences
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor authenticated POST requests to /wp-admin/post.php and /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php for payloads containing the showmodule shortcode
- Alert on Content Security Policy violation reports indicating inline script execution on pages rendered by the affected plugin
- Track privilege changes and new contributor account creation that precede content modifications
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-9714
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Simple Divi Shortcode plugin to version 1.2.1 or later, which adds proper escaping of the id attribute
- Audit all existing posts and pages for prior use of the [showmodule] shortcode and remove any entries containing suspicious payloads
- Review contributor-level and higher accounts, rotate credentials for any suspected compromised users, and remove unused accounts
Patch Information
The plugin author resolved the issue in version 1.2.1. The fix introduces escaping of the id shortcode attribute before it is concatenated into the secondary shortcode string. Refer to the WordPress Plugin Change Log for the exact code changes.
Workarounds
- Restrict contributor and author roles to trusted users only until the plugin is updated
- Temporarily disable the Simple Divi Shortcode plugin if an immediate update is not feasible
- Deploy a Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts to reduce the impact of injected payloads
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
