CVE-2026-2498 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WP Social Meta plugin developed by bulktheme for WordPress. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), specifically due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the plugin's admin settings interface. This flaw allows an authenticated attacker with administrator-level privileges or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages managed by the plugin. The injected scripts execute whenever any user accesses the compromised page, potentially enabling session hijacking, privilege escalation, or other malicious actions within the context of the victim's browser session. Notably, this vulnerability only affects WordPress installations configured as multi-site or those where the unfiltered_html capability is disabled, limiting its scope. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.4 (medium severity), reflecting the requirement for high privileges (PR:H), network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no user interaction (UI:N), and partial confidentiality and integrity impact (C:L/I:L). No public exploits are currently known, and no patches have been officially released as of the publication date. The vulnerability was reserved and published in February 2026 by Wordfence. Given the nature of stored XSS, successful exploitation could allow persistent malicious script execution affecting multiple users, potentially leading to data theft, unauthorized actions, or further compromise within the WordPress environment.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-2498 is the potential for attackers with administrator-level access to inject persistent malicious scripts into WordPress sites using the WP Social Meta plugin in multi-site or restricted unfiltered_html configurations. This can lead to partial loss of confidentiality and integrity by enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed in the context of affected users. Although availability is not directly impacted, the trustworthiness and security of the affected WordPress sites can be significantly undermined. Organizations relying on multi-site WordPress deployments with this plugin are at risk of internal compromise if an attacker gains admin access, which could cascade to broader network or data breaches. The requirement for high privileges and the absence of known public exploits reduce the likelihood of widespread exploitation but do not eliminate the risk, especially in environments with weak internal controls or compromised administrators. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as part of a multi-stage attack chain, increasing its strategic risk. Overall, the threat is moderate but warrants prompt attention to prevent potential damage.

To mitigate CVE-2026-2498, organizations should first verify if they are running the WP Social Meta plugin version 1.0.1 or earlier, especially in multi-site WordPress environments or where unfiltered_html is disabled. Since no official patches are currently available, immediate mitigation steps include restricting administrator-level access to trusted personnel only and auditing admin accounts for suspicious activity. Implement strict input validation and output escaping in custom configurations or consider disabling the plugin if not essential. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting stored XSS patterns to detect and block malicious payloads. Regularly monitor logs and user activity for signs of script injection or anomalous behavior. Additionally, consider enabling Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. Stay updated with vendor announcements for forthcoming patches and apply them promptly once released. Finally, educate administrators on secure plugin management and the risks of excessive privileges to reduce attack surface.