CVE-2026-96278: CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') in opajaap WP Photo Album Plus

The WP Photo Album Plus plugin suffers from a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation. Specifically, the esc_url_raw() function removes literal angle brackets but leaves HTML entities intact, which are then decoded back into executable HTML tags by wppaEntityDecode(). These tags are subsequently rendered by jQuery's html() method, enabling script injection. This affects all versions up to and including 9.3.03.002.

An unauthenticated attacker can inject arbitrary web scripts into pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or other malicious actions that rely on executing scripts in the context of the victim's browser. The CVSS score of 7.2 (high) reflects the network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and partial confidentiality and integrity impact.

Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is available, users should consider disabling or restricting access to the affected plugin to prevent exploitation.