📄 Description (English)
The WP Shortcodes Plugin - Shortcodes Ultimate plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting in all versions up to, and including, 7.4.7. This is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the 'src' attribute of the su_lightbox shortcode. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
The WP Shortcodes Plugin (Shortcodes Ultimate) versions up to 7.4.7 contain a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the su_lightbox shortcode's 'src' attribute due to insufficient input sanitization. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level access can inject malicious scripts that execute for all users viewing affected pages. While currently unpatched, the medium CVSS score (6.4) and authentication requirement limit immediate risk, but the persistent nature of stored XSS poses significant organizational threat.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 15, 2026 05:55
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations using WordPress with the Shortcodes Ultimate plugin face significant risk, particularly in: (1) Government agencies and NCA-regulated entities using WordPress for public-facing portals and content management; (2) Banking and financial institutions (SAMA-regulated) using WordPress for customer-facing websites; (3) Healthcare providers and SEHA-affiliated organizations using WordPress for patient information portals; (4) E-commerce and retail sectors relying on WordPress for online storefronts; (5) Educational institutions and universities using WordPress for course management and announcements. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments common in Saudi government and enterprise deployments where contributor-level access is frequently granted to content teams.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government and Public Administration
Banking and Financial Services
Healthcare and Medical Services
E-commerce and Retail
Education and Universities
Telecommunications
Energy and Utilities
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Audit all WordPress installations in your environment to identify use of Shortcodes Ultimate plugin versions ≤7.4.7
2. Review user access logs for contributor-level and above accounts to identify suspicious shortcode modifications
3. Scan all pages and posts containing su_lightbox shortcodes for injected malicious scripts
4. Restrict contributor-level permissions to only trusted personnel until patch is available
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (until patch available):
5. Disable the Shortcodes Ultimate plugin entirely if not critical to operations
6. If plugin is required: Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block XSS payloads in shortcode attributes
7. Apply WordPress security hardening: disable plugin/theme file editing, implement strict file permissions
8. Enable WordPress security plugins (Wordfence, Sucuri) with real-time malware scanning
9. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution
10. Conduct daily automated scans of post/page content for suspicious shortcode patterns
DETECTION RULES:
- Monitor database queries for modifications to posts/pages containing 'su_lightbox' shortcodes
- Alert on any changes to shortcode 'src' attributes containing: javascript:, onerror=, onload=, <script>, data:text/html
- Log all contributor-level user activities, especially post/page modifications
- Implement SIEM rules to detect XSS payloads in HTTP requests to WordPress admin
PATCHING STRATEGY:
11. Monitor plugin repository for security update release
12. Establish testing environment to validate patch before production deployment
13. Plan immediate update deployment once patch becomes available
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تدقيق جميع تثبيتات WordPress في بيئتك لتحديد استخدام إصدارات مكون Shortcodes Ultimate ≤7.4.7
2. مراجعة سجلات الوصول للمستخدمين بمستوى المساهم وما فوقه لتحديد تعديلات الاختصار المريبة
3. مسح جميع الصفحات والمنشورات التي تحتوي على اختصارات su_lightbox بحثاً عن برامج نصية ضارة مُدرجة
4. تقييد أذونات مستوى المساهم للموظفين الموثوقين فقط حتى يتوفر التصحيح
الضوابط البديلة (حتى يتوفر التصحيح):
5. تعطيل مكون Shortcodes Ultimate بالكامل إذا لم يكن حرجياً للعمليات
6. إذا كان المكون مطلوباً: تطبيق قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) للكشف عن حمولات XSS وحجبها
7. تطبيق تقسية أمان WordPress: تعطيل تحرير ملفات المكون/المظهر، تطبيق أذونات ملفات صارمة
8. تفعيل مكونات أمان WordPress (Wordfence, Sucuri) مع المسح الفوري للبرامج الضارة
9. تطبيق رؤوس سياسة أمان المحتوى (CSP) لتقييد تنفيذ البرامج النصية
10. إجراء عمليات مسح آلية يومية لمحتوى المنشورات/الصفحات بحثاً عن أنماط اختصار مريبة
قواعد الكشف:
- مراقبة استعلامات قاعدة البيانات لتعديلات المنشورات/الصفحات التي تحتوي على اختصارات 'su_lightbox'
- التنبيه على أي تغييرات في سمات 'src' للاختصار تحتوي على: javascript:, onerror=, onload=, <script>, data:text/html
- تسجيل جميع أنشطة المستخدمين بمستوى المساهم، خاصة تعديلات المنشورات/الصفحات
- تطبيق قواعد SIEM للكشف عن حمولات XSS في طلبات HTTP إلى مسؤول WordPress
استراتيجية التصحيح:
11. مراقبة مستودع المكون لإصدار تحديث أمان
12. إنشاء بيئة اختبار للتحقق من صحة التصحيح قبل نشره في الإنتاج
13. التخطيط لنشر التحديث الفوري بمجرد توفر التصحيح
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy and procedures
A.14.2.5 - Secure development environment
A.14.3.1 - Testing of security functionality
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.BE-5 - Organizational resilience with respect to cybersecurity risk
PR.DS-6 - Integrity checking mechanisms
PR.IP-1 - System and information integrity
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability scans are performed
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.14.3.1 - Security testing
A.8.3.2 - User access provisioning
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
6.5.7 - Cross-site scripting (XSS)
6.2 - Ensure security patches are installed
11.2 - Run automated vulnerability scans
🔗 References & Sources 3
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https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/shortcodes-ultimate/tags/7.4.8/includes/shor...
security@wordfence.com
https://research.cleantalk.org/cve-2026-0737/
security@wordfence.com
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/62a9c9f4-ace4-4029-a720-5ea07...
security@wordfence.com