CVE-2026-2281 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability classified under CWE-79, found in the Private Comment plugin for WordPress developed by edersonpeka. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 0.0.4, specifically in the 'Label text' setting of the plugin. The root cause is insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. This flaw allows an authenticated attacker with Administrator-level privileges or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages generated by the plugin. The injected scripts execute in the context of any user who views the affected page, potentially enabling session hijacking, unauthorized actions, or further privilege escalation. The vulnerability only affects WordPress multi-site installations or single-site installations where the unfiltered_html capability is disabled, limiting the attack surface. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.4 (medium severity), reflecting that exploitation requires high privileges (administrator), no user interaction is needed, and the attack vector is network-based. No public exploits have been reported, and no official patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved and published in February 2026 by Wordfence. Due to the nature of stored XSS, the impact is persistent and can affect multiple users over time if exploited. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in WordPress plugins, especially those handling user-generated content or settings.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to those using WordPress multi-site environments with the Private Comment plugin installed. Successful exploitation could lead to the execution of malicious scripts in users' browsers, resulting in session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, or unauthorized actions performed with the victim's privileges. Since exploitation requires administrator-level access, the threat is mainly from insider threats or compromised administrator accounts. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that once injected, the malicious payload can affect multiple users over time, increasing the potential damage. Organizations handling sensitive data or operating critical websites could face reputational damage, data breaches, or compliance issues under GDPR if user data is compromised. The limited exploitability and medium severity reduce the likelihood of widespread automated attacks, but targeted attacks against high-value European entities remain a concern. Multi-site WordPress installations are common in large enterprises, educational institutions, and media organizations across Europe, amplifying the potential impact in these sectors.

1. Restrict administrator access strictly to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of privilege abuse. 2. Monitor and audit administrator actions regularly to detect any suspicious changes to plugin settings, especially the 'Label text' field. 3. Apply strict input validation and output encoding in the plugin code if possible, or replace the plugin with a more secure alternative until an official patch is released. 4. Disable or limit the use of multi-site WordPress installations where feasible, or isolate critical sites to reduce attack surface. 5. Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 6. Educate administrators about the risks of stored XSS and safe plugin management practices. 7. Regularly update WordPress core, plugins, and themes to incorporate security fixes promptly. 8. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) that can detect and block XSS payloads targeting known vulnerable parameters. 9. Backup website data frequently to enable quick recovery if an attack occurs. 10. Monitor security advisories from the plugin vendor and WordPress community for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability.