Reflected XSS via unescaped shortcode_id output
Published Apr 18, 2026 · Updated Apr 18, 2026
Reflected XSS in the Hostel plugin for WordPress 1.1.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute scripts via shortcode_id. The room-list AJAX flow carries the shortcode_id request parameter into a generated rooms-table response without sufficient sanitization and output escaping. Execution requires a victim to follow a crafted link, after which the script runs in that victim's browser context and can read or alter page data.
Summary
What happened
Reflected XSS in the Hostel plugin for WordPress 1.1.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute scripts via shortcode_id. The room-list AJAX flow carries the shortcode_id request parameter into a generated rooms-table response without sufficient sanitization and output escaping. Execution requires a victim to follow a crafted link, after which the script runs in that victim's browser context and can read or alter page data.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-1838
- Published
- Apr 18, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 18, 2026
- Vendor
- Kiboko Labs Ltd.
- Product
- Hostel
- Classifications
- CWE-79, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=1.1.6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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