Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-1053 affects the Ivory Search WordPress plugin through version 5.5.13. An already-authenticated administrator can store malicious script in search-related settings. Impact is limited because it requires high privileges and only applies to multisite installations or sites where unfiltered_html is disabled.
Executive priority
Treat as a routine but real web security issue. Prioritize internet-facing WordPress multisite environments and sites with many administrator users. Urgency is lower than unauthenticated or remotely exploitable flaws, but compromised admin accounts could turn this into user-facing script execution.
Technical view
The issue is stored cross-site scripting in admin settings parameters menu_gcse and nothing_found_text, caused by insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. CVSS 3.1 is 4.4, with high privileges and high attack complexity. Scripts execute when users access affected injected pages. CWE-79 applies.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running Ivory Search through 5.5.13, specifically multisite deployments or installations where unfiltered_html is disabled. Single-site installations with normal administrator unfiltered_html behavior may not be affected according to the CVE description.
Exploitation context
No provided source states active exploitation, and this CVE is not listed as KEV. Exploitation requires administrator-level access or higher, reducing likelihood but increasing concern where admin accounts are shared, compromised, or delegated to many site operators.
Researcher notes
The public record identifies vulnerable parameters and references affected source locations plus a WordPress plugin changeset. The bundle does not clearly name a fixed version. Avoid assuming patch level beyond “through 5.5.13” unless vendor advisory confirms it.
Mitigation direction
- Identify WordPress sites using Ivory Search / add-search-to-menu.
- Check whether installed plugin versions are 5.5.13 or earlier.
- Review vendor and WordPress plugin guidance for a fixed release.
- Restrict administrator access to trusted users only.
- Disable or remove the plugin if no safe update is available and business impact allows.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether the WordPress site is multisite.
- Confirm whether unfiltered_html is disabled.
- Inventory plugin version from WordPress admin or asset management records.
- Review Ivory Search settings for unexpected script-like content.
- Monitor vendor advisories and Wordfence entry for fixed-version details.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-1053 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N1.32.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cdc5ef6a-32d8-4c4b-b459-d9b543b56898?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/add-search-to-menu/tags/5.5.13/public/class-is-public.phpCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/add-search-to-menu/tags/5.5.13/public/class-is-public.php#L204CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/add-search-to-menu/tags/5.5.13/public/partials/is-ajax-results.php#L148CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3444659%40add-search-to-menu&new=3444659%40add-search-to-menu&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.