Kirki: Unauthenticated shortcode execution through unmoderated comments
An unauthenticated visitor can put registered shortcodes into a comment. Kirki renders comments regardless of moderation status and executes their shortcodes, allowing the visitor to invoke site-registered shortcode behavior and read private custom fields of the displayed page. The export does not name the rendering function or specific shortcodes, and does not establish arbitrary PHP execution. No victim interaction is required by the vector. The vector reports limited confidentiality impact, limited integrity impact, no availability impact. The vector also reports high attack complexity; the export establishes only the preconditions described here. Affected versions: < 6.3.2. The authoritative export identifies 6.3.2 as fixed for this CVE.
- Component
- Kirki
- Plugin slug
kirki- Affected
- < 6.3.2
- Safe version
6.3.2- Published
- Oct 09, 2026
This CVE was published Oct 09, 2026 and is one of 42 known issues for this plugin.
Update, patch or deactivate.
Update to 6.3.2 or a later supported release. Application-level remediation: Do not execute shortcodes from untrusted comments. Honor moderation status before rendering comments and enforce authorization on any shortcode that reads protected fields.
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.
Technical description
The Kirki WordPress plugin before 6.3.2 does not prevent shortcodes held in comments from being executed when it renders them, and displays comments regardless of their moderation status, allowing unauthenticated visitors to run shortcodes registered on the site and to read private custom fields of the page being viewed.
CVE / CNA vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N