📄 Description (English)
The Outgrow plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'id' attribute of the 'outgrow' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 2.1. This is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. 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 Outgrow WordPress plugin (versions ≤2.1) contains a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the 'id' attribute of the 'outgrow' shortcode due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level access can inject malicious scripts that execute for all users viewing affected pages. While currently unpatched, the vulnerability requires authenticated access, limiting immediate risk but posing significant threats to WordPress sites with multiple content creators.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 15, 2026 17:08
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations using WordPress with the Outgrow plugin face moderate risk, particularly in the government, banking, and media sectors where multiple content creators manage websites. Government agencies (under NCA oversight) and financial institutions (under SAMA regulation) using this plugin for customer engagement forms or surveys are at risk of defacement, credential theft, or malware distribution. The vulnerability is especially concerning for organizations with weak access controls over contributor accounts, as insider threats or compromised contributor credentials could lead to widespread XSS attacks affecting customer-facing portals.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government (NCA-regulated agencies)
Banking and Financial Services (SAMA-regulated)
Media and Publishing
E-commerce
Healthcare
Education
Telecommunications
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter (JavaScript execution)
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application (WordPress plugin vulnerability)
T1598 - Phishing (credential harvesting via injected forms)
T1566 - Phishing (malware distribution via injected scripts)
T1539 - Steal Web Session Cookie (session hijacking via XSS)
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
5.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Audit all WordPress sites using Outgrow plugin ≤2.1 and identify pages using the 'outgrow' shortcode
2. Review contributor and author user accounts for suspicious activity or unauthorized shortcode modifications
3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block XSS payloads in shortcode attributes
4. Enable WordPress security logging and monitor for shortcode modifications
Patching Guidance:
1. Contact Outgrow plugin developers for patch availability timeline
2. If patch becomes available, immediately update to the latest version after testing in staging environment
3. Until patch is available, consider disabling the Outgrow plugin if not actively used
Compensating Controls:
1. Restrict contributor role permissions using WordPress role management plugins (e.g., Members, User Role Editor)
2. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent inline script execution
3. Use WordPress security plugins (Wordfence, Sucuri) with XSS detection capabilities
4. Enable two-factor authentication for all contributor+ accounts
5. Regularly audit and sanitize existing shortcode content for malicious payloads
Detection Rules:
1. Monitor for shortcode modifications: wp_update_post with 'outgrow' shortcode changes
2. Alert on contributor account logins from unusual IP addresses or times
3. Search post_content database for 'outgrow' shortcodes containing script tags or event handlers
4. Monitor for changes to plugin files or shortcode handler functions
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تدقيق جميع مواقع WordPress التي تستخدم مكون Outgrow ≤2.1 وتحديد الصفحات التي تستخدم الكود القصير 'outgrow'
2. مراجعة حسابات المستخدمين من نوع المساهم والمؤلف للبحث عن نشاط مريب أو تعديلات غير مصرح بها على الكود القصير
3. تنفيذ قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) للكشف عن حقن XSS وحجبها في خصائص الكود القصير
4. تفعيل تسجيل أمان WordPress ومراقبة تعديلات الكود القصير
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. التواصل مع مطوري مكون Outgrow للحصول على جدول زمني لتوفر التصحيح
2. عند توفر التصحيح، قم بالتحديث الفوري إلى أحدث إصدار بعد الاختبار في بيئة التطوير
3. حتى يتوفر التصحيح، فكر في تعطيل مكون Outgrow إذا لم يكن قيد الاستخدام النشط
الضوابط البديلة:
1. تقييد صلاحيات دور المساهم باستخدام مكونات إدارة الأدوار في WordPress
2. تنفيذ رؤوس سياسة أمان المحتوى (CSP) لمنع تنفيذ النصوص البرمجية المضمنة
3. استخدام مكونات أمان WordPress (Wordfence, Sucuri) مع قدرات الكشف عن XSS
4. تفعيل المصادقة متعددة العوامل لجميع حسابات المساهم وما فوقه
5. تدقيق منتظم وتنقية محتوى الكود القصير الموجود للبحث عن حمولات ضارة
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة تعديلات الكود القصير: wp_update_post مع تغييرات كود 'outgrow' القصير
2. تنبيه عند تسجيل دخول حساب المساهم من عناوين IP غير عادية أو أوقات غير عادية
3. البحث في قاعدة بيانات post_content عن أكواد 'outgrow' القصيرة التي تحتوي على علامات script أو معالجات أحداث
4. مراقبة التغييرات على ملفات المكون أو وظائف معالج الكود القصير
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy (input validation and output encoding requirements)
A.14.2.5 - Secure development environment (testing for XSS vulnerabilities)
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities (vulnerability assessment and remediation)
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.SC-7 - Software, firmware, and information integrity (secure coding practices)
PR.DS-6 - Integrity checking mechanisms (input validation and output encoding)
DE.CM-4 - Malicious code detection (XSS payload detection)
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.14.2.5 - Secure development environment
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.3.1 - Separation of development, test and production environments
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
6.5.7 - Cross-site scripting (XSS)
6.2 - Ensure security patches are installed within one month of release
🔗 References & Sources 4
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https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/outgrow/tags/2.1/newOutgrow.php#L87
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/outgrow/trunk/newOutgrow.php#L87
security@wordfence.com
https://wordpress.org/plugins/outgrow/
security@wordfence.com
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/29e9ad80-6a02-494a-9d53-0f147...
security@wordfence.com