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CVE-2026-2509 softaculous CVE debrief

The CVE-2026-2509 vulnerability is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting issue in the Pagelayer plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability affects all versions up to, and including, 2.0.8. The issue arises from an incomplete event handler blocklist in the 'pagelayer_xss_content' XSS filtering function, which fails to block all event handlers. This allows authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access and above to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages. These scripts will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.

Vendor
softaculous
Product
Page Builder: Pagelayer – Drag and Drop website builder
CVSS
MEDIUM 6.4
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-04-08
Original CVE updated
2026-07-25
Advisory published
2026-04-08
Advisory updated
2026-07-25

Who should care

Administrators and users of the Pagelayer plugin for WordPress should be aware of this vulnerability, especially those with Contributor-level access or higher. Additionally, users who have not updated the plugin to the latest version should take immediate action to prevent potential exploitation.

Technical summary

The Pagelayer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the Button widget's Custom Attributes field. This is due to an incomplete event handler blocklist in the 'pagelayer_xss_content' XSS filtering function. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 6.4 and a severity rating of MEDIUM. It requires an attacker to have Contributor-level access and above to inject malicious scripts.

Defensive priority

Medium priority should be given to updating the Pagelayer plugin to the latest version. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious activity and implementing compensating controls, such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), can help mitigate potential threats.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Update the Pagelayer plugin to the latest version.
  • Monitor for suspicious activity and implement compensating controls.
  • Restrict access to the Pagelayer plugin's settings and functionality.
  • Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and prevent attacks.
  • Regularly review and update the plugin's configuration and settings.

Evidence notes

The CVE record was published on 2026-04-08T14:16:27.693Z and last modified on 2026-07-25T10:10:00.167Z. The NVD entry is currently Deferred. The vulnerability was reported by [email protected]. Evidence is limited to CVE and NVD data. Defenders should verify Pagelayer plugin versions and update to the latest version if vulnerable. They should also monitor for suspicious activity and implement compensating controls. Additional verification tasks may be needed based on specific environment configurations and potential exposure.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-2509 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-2509

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-2509 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-2509

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental 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.