CVE-2026-1053 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability classified under CWE-79 found in the Ivory Search plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 5.5.13. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the plugin’s admin settings interface, allowing authenticated users with administrator-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. This malicious code is stored persistently and executed whenever any user accesses the affected pages, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing unauthorized actions within the context of the victim’s browser session. The vulnerability specifically impacts multisite WordPress installations or those where the unfiltered_html capability is disabled, which restricts users from posting unfiltered HTML content. Exploitation requires high privileges (administrator or above), no user interaction is needed once the malicious script is injected, and the attack vector is remote network-based. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.4 (medium severity), reflecting the requirement for high privileges and the limited scope of impact (confidentiality and integrity impact are low, no availability impact). No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a risk in environments where multiple sites are managed centrally and where administrators may be targeted or compromised. The vulnerability was published on January 28, 2026, and is assigned by Wordfence. No official patches or fixes were linked at the time of reporting, indicating the need for immediate mitigation by administrators.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-1053 can be significant in environments using WordPress multisite installations with the Ivory Search plugin. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized script execution in users’ browsers, enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. This compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user data and site content. Although availability is not directly affected, the reputational damage and potential data breaches could have regulatory consequences under GDPR, especially if personal data is exposed or manipulated. Organizations relying on WordPress for public-facing websites, intranets, or e-commerce platforms may face increased risk if administrative accounts are compromised or insider threats exist. The requirement for administrator-level access limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, particularly in large organizations with multiple administrators or outsourced management. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate threat but should not lead to complacency, as attackers often develop exploits rapidly once vulnerabilities are disclosed.

1. Immediately review and restrict administrator-level access to trusted personnel only, enforcing the principle of least privilege. 2. Monitor and audit administrative actions and plugin settings changes for suspicious activity. 3. If possible, disable or remove the Ivory Search plugin until a patch or update is available. 4. For multisite installations, consider isolating sites or limiting plugin usage to reduce exposure. 5. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting admin interfaces. 6. Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate the impact of injected scripts. 7. Educate administrators on the risks of stored XSS and safe plugin management practices. 8. Regularly update WordPress core and plugins once patches addressing this vulnerability are released. 9. Use security plugins that can detect and remediate malicious code injections in the WordPress environment. 10. Conduct penetration testing focused on admin interfaces to identify similar vulnerabilities proactively.