CVE-2026-76573 sc0ttkclark CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders managing WordPress sites using the Pods plugin should assess exposure and prioritize updates to prevent exploitation. This includes verifying and updating the Pods plugin, restricting contributor-level access, and monitoring for suspicious activity. Security teams and operators should review the vulnerability's impact on their environments and take necessary actions to prevent exploitation.

Why it matters

CVE-2026-76573 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability in the Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields plugin for WordPress. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level access can inject web scripts via the 'not_found' Shortcode Attribute. This affects all versions up to 3.3.9.1. Defenders should prioritize verifying and updating the Pods plugin to prevent exploitation.

• Verify and update the Pods plugin to prevent exploitation
• Restrict contributor-level access to prevent injection of malicious scripts
• Monitor for suspicious activity on WordPress sites using the Pods plugin

Technical summary

The Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'not_found' Shortcode Attribute. This allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access to inject arbitrary web scripts, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications and security breaches. The vulnerability affects all versions up to 3.3.9.1 and can be mitigated by verifying and updating the Pods plugin, restricting contributor-level access, and monitoring for suspicious activity. Defenders should prioritize verifying and updating the Pods plugin to prevent exploitation.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize verifying and updating the Pods plugin to prevent exploitation.

Recommended defensive actions

• Verify and update the Pods plugin to the latest version
• Restrict contributor-level access to prevent exploitation
• Monitor for suspicious activity on WordPress sites using the Pods plugin
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up

Evidence notes

The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access to inject arbitrary web scripts. The CVE record and NVD detail provide information on the vulnerability. Evidence from the CVE Program record and NVD detail page confirms the vulnerability's existence and impact. Defenders should verify and update the Pods plugin to prevent exploitation, with a focus on contributor-level access restrictions and monitoring for suspicious activity.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.