Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-1853 is a stored cross-site scripting issue in the BuddyHolis ListSearch WordPress plugin. A logged-in user with Contributor-level access or higher could place script content through the plugin shortcode, causing it to run when someone views the affected page. This is a medium-severity website integrity and session-risk issue, not confirmed as actively exploited.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate-priority web application issue. Prioritize sites that allow many contributors, external authors, or partner accounts. The main business risk is malicious script execution in site pages, potentially affecting visitors, administrators, or brand trust.
Technical view
The flaw is CWE-79 in BuddyHolis ListSearch versions up to and including 1.1. The listsearch shortcode placeholder attribute lacks sufficient input sanitization and output escaping, enabling authenticated Contributor+ attackers to inject stored scripts. CVSS 3.1 is 6.4: network exploitable, low complexity, low privileges, scope changed, low confidentiality and integrity impact, no availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running BuddyHolis ListSearch through version 1.1, especially where Contributor or higher accounts are available to untrusted users. Sites without the plugin, without affected versions, or without such accounts are less exposed based on the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The sources do not report active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. Exploitation requires authenticated WordPress access at Contributor level or above and placement of malicious shortcode content that later renders for viewers.
Researcher notes
The provided CVE description names versions up to and including 1.1, while the affected product metadata appears sparse and lists defaultStatus as unaffected. No fixed version is identified in the supplied sources. Validate against WordPress plugin repository and vendor advisory before closing remediation.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the BuddyHolis ListSearch plugin and installed version.
- If running version 1.1 or earlier, check vendor or WordPress plugin guidance for an updated release.
- Disable or remove the plugin where it is not business-critical.
- Restrict Contributor-level and higher access to trusted users only.
- Review published content using the listsearch shortcode for unauthorized changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether BuddyHolis ListSearch is installed on each WordPress instance.
- Record plugin version and compare against versions up to and including 1.1.
- Identify users with Contributor, Author, Editor, or Administrator roles.
- Review pages and posts containing the listsearch shortcode.
- Monitor security advisories for patch or remediation updates.
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-2026-1853 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
- 6.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N3.12.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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/43e52adf-387c-452d-96b4-aad459fa75b3?source=cveCVE reference
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/listsearch/CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/listsearch/trunk/listsearch.php#L33CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/listsearch/tags/1.1/listsearch.php#L33CVE 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.