CVE-2026-24938Network attack vector

Authenticated stored XSS via unescaped post content

Published Feb 3, 2026 · Updated Feb 3, 2026

Stored XSS in Ajay D'Souza Better Search 4.2.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts through crafted post content. The plugin accepts script-bearing content from Author-level users and later renders it without sufficient input sanitization or output escaping. Author-level access is required, and execution occurs in the browser of a user who views the injected page, exposing that user's site privileges and data.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stored XSS in Ajay D'Souza Better Search 4.2.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts through crafted post content. The plugin accepts script-bearing content from Author-level users and later renders it without sufficient input sanitization or output escaping. Author-level access is required, and execution occurs in the browser of a user who views the injected page, exposing that user's site privileges and data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-24938
Published
Feb 3, 2026
Updated
Feb 3, 2026
Vendor
Ajay D'Souza
Product
Better Search
Classifications
CWE-79, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 3, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 3, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=n/a <=<= 4.2.1 changes=[{"at":"4.2.2","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Ajay D'Souza · Better Searchversion=n/a <=<= 4.2.1 changes=[{"at":"4.2.2","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

5.9PatchstackCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
6.4WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1059.007JavaScript/JScript

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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