Stored XSS via unescaped image alt attribute
Published May 2, 2026 · Updated May 2, 2026
Stored XSS in HashThemes Total 2.2.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts via crafted post titles. The Home Page blog-section template passes the_title() directly into a featured-image alt attribute without attribute-context escaping, so quotes in a stored title can introduce executable markup. Contributor-level access is sufficient, but the post must be published with a featured image and a visitor must load the affected blog section.
Summary
What happened
Stored XSS in HashThemes Total 2.2.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts via crafted post titles. The Home Page blog-section template passes the_title() directly into a featured-image alt attribute without attribute-context escaping, so quotes in a stored title can introduce executable markup. Contributor-level access is sufficient, but the post must be published with a featured image and a visitor must load the affected blog section.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-5077
- Published
- May 2, 2026
- Updated
- May 2, 2026
- Vendor
- HashThemes
- Product
- Total
- Classifications
- CWE-79, T1059.007
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 2, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 2, 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 <=2.2.1
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
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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