CVE-2026-0741 identifies a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Electric Studio Download Counter plugin for WordPress, present in all versions up to and including 2.4. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), specifically due to insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied data in the plugin's settings interface. An attacker with authenticated Administrator-level privileges can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into plugin settings, which is then stored and rendered on pages viewed by other users. This stored XSS can lead to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions performed in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability requires no user interaction beyond visiting the injected page but does require high privileges to exploit, limiting the attack surface primarily to insiders or compromised administrator accounts. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.4, reflecting network attack vector, high attack complexity, required privileges, no user interaction, and partial confidentiality and integrity impact without availability impact. No public exploits are known at this time, but the vulnerability poses a risk to WordPress sites using this plugin, especially those with multiple administrators or users with elevated privileges. Mitigation involves applying patches when available or implementing strict input validation and output encoding in the plugin settings. Monitoring administrator activities and limiting administrator accounts can reduce risk. Given WordPress's widespread use in Europe, this vulnerability could affect numerous organizations relying on this plugin for download tracking and analytics.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the confidentiality and integrity of web applications using the Electric Studio Download Counter plugin. Exploitation could allow attackers with administrator access to inject malicious scripts that execute in other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of legitimate users. This is particularly concerning for organizations with multiple administrators or contributors managing WordPress sites, such as media companies, e-commerce platforms, and public sector websites. While the attack requires high privileges, insider threats or compromised administrator credentials could enable exploitation. The vulnerability does not affect availability but could damage organizational reputation and user trust if exploited. European organizations with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) may face compliance risks if user data is compromised through such attacks. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability should be addressed proactively to prevent future exploitation.

1. Apply official patches or updates from Electric Studio as soon as they become available to fix the input sanitization and output escaping issues in the plugin. 2. Until patches are released, restrict administrator access to trusted personnel only and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting the plugin settings interface. 4. Conduct regular audits of administrator activities and plugin settings to detect unauthorized changes or injected scripts. 5. Consider disabling or replacing the Electric Studio Download Counter plugin with alternative solutions that follow secure coding practices if patching is delayed. 6. Educate administrators on the risks of stored XSS and the importance of secure plugin management. 7. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the impact of potential XSS by restricting script execution sources. 8. Monitor logs and user reports for unusual behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts.