CVE-2026-1252 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Events Listing Widget plugin for WordPress, developed by jackdewey. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.3.4. The root cause is insufficient sanitization of the 'Event URL' parameter and lack of proper output escaping during web page generation. Authenticated users with Author-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into event listings. When other users access the compromised pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions within the context of the affected site. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting medium severity, with an attack vector of network (remote), low attack complexity, requiring privileges (Author or above), no user interaction, and a scope change. Confidentiality and integrity are impacted due to script execution, but availability remains unaffected. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk in environments where multiple users have content publishing rights. The lack of a patch at the time of reporting necessitates immediate mitigation efforts by site administrators.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized script execution within their WordPress sites, compromising user sessions, stealing sensitive information, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. This is particularly concerning for organizations that rely on WordPress for public-facing websites or internal portals with multiple content contributors. The exploitation could damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and violate data protection regulations such as GDPR if personal data is exposed. Since the attack requires authenticated access with Author-level privileges, insider threats or compromised accounts pose a significant risk. The medium severity score reflects a moderate but tangible threat to confidentiality and integrity, which could escalate if combined with other vulnerabilities or social engineering attacks. The absence of known exploits suggests a window for proactive defense, but also the potential for future exploitation once details become widely known.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Events Listing Widget plugin and verify the version in use. Until an official patch is released, administrators should restrict Author-level privileges to trusted users only and consider temporarily disabling or removing the plugin if feasible. Implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting the 'Event URL' parameter can provide interim protection. Site owners should enforce strict input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data in custom code or overrides. Monitoring logs for unusual activity related to event creation or modification is advisable. Once a patch becomes available, prompt application of updates is critical. Additionally, educating content authors about the risks of injecting untrusted URLs and maintaining strong authentication mechanisms (e.g., MFA) will reduce exploitation likelihood.