Medium severity · published Mar 26, 2026
CVE-2026-4278
Simple Download Counter <= 2.3 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'text' Shortcode Attribute
6.4
CVSS
0.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
The Simple Download Counter plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'sdc_menu' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 2.3. This is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied shortcode attributes, specifically the 'text' and 'cat' attributes. The 'text' attribute is output directly into HTML content on line 159 without any escaping (e.g., esc_html()). The 'cat' attribute is used unescaped in HTML class attributes on lines 135 and 157 without esc_attr(). This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 15% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
SD
Simple Download Counter · specialk
through 2.3 · source: vendor
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-4278
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-4278
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/tags/2.3/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L135
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/tags/2.3/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L157
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/tags/2.3/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L159
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/tags/2.3/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L92
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/trunk/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L135
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/trunk/inc/functions-shortcode.php#L157
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