Broken Link Checker can store script through redirected comment-author links

Broken Link Checker through 2.4.13 can store an unauthenticated attacker's redirected comment-author URL in its link log without safe output handling. After an Administrator dismisses and rechecks the submitted link, the redirect target is stored and script executes when the affected log view is opened.

CVE / CNA score 7.2 CVSS 3.1 · security@wordfence.com

NVD score Pending NVD has not published its own CVSS assessment.

Component: Broken Link Checker
Plugin slug: broken-link-checker
Affected: <= 2.4.13
Safe version: 2.4.13.1
Published: Sep 02, 2026
Weakness: CWE-79 — Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

This CVE was published Sep 02, 2026 and is one of 15 known issues for this plugin.

What to do

Update, patch or deactivate.

Update to 2.4.13.1 or later, remove malicious comment-author links and link-log entries, and review privileged activity after affected logs were viewed.

A safe version is available, so updating to that version or later is the preferred remediation. If an immediate update is not practical, consider a targeted application patch or temporarily restricting the affected functionality.

Deactivate only when warranted by your risk profile, or when advised by your hosting provider in the limited circumstances where the vulnerability cannot otherwise be mitigated. If you’re unsure which action is appropriate, contact Fused or your hosting provider for guidance.

Source record

Technical description

The Broken Link Checker plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Comment Author URL / Link Log in all versions up to, and including, 2.4.13 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. Exploitation requires an administrator to perform the plugin's standard dismiss-and-recheck workflow on a link submitted by the attacker via the WordPress comment author URL field, after which the attacker's HTTP server issues a redirect to a URL containing an HTML/JavaScript payload that is stored verbatim in the link log.

CVE / CNA vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

References

Primary and upstream sources

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