CVE-2026-18978: litespeedtech litespeed_cache Cross-site Scripting

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-18978 is a high (CVSS 7.2) Cross-site Scripting vulnerability in litespeedtech litespeed_cache. EPSS estimates a 0.37% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 29% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 28-08-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 28-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

The LiteSpeed Cache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Comment Content in all versions up to, and including, 7.8.1 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. A comment payload crafted exclusively from decimal numeric character references (e.g. ", <, >) placed inside an allowed element such as <code> bypasses WordPress's wp_kses sanitization, as kses does not treat a data-settings="..." substring within text content as an HTML attribute, allowing the malicious payload to reach the vulnerable function. For this to be exploitable, the site must allow users with previously approved comments to write new comments, and the require_name_email setting must be disabled.

• CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.