HootBoard WordPress plugin: Unauthenticated stored Cross-Site Scripting
Summary
The HootBoard WordPress plugin through version 3.1.4 does not check authorisation on some of its REST endpoints and does not escape the stored values before displaying them on public pages. An unauthenticated attacker can inject arbitrary scripts that run in the browser of every visitor, including administrators. Exploitation requires a user to view the poisoned page, and the plugin has no known fix.
Affected
- HootBoard WordPress plugin, all versions through 3.1.4
- Affected WordPress sites with the plugin installed and active
Fixed in
- No known fix.
Workaround
- Deactivate and remove the plugin.
- If the plugin must remain, restrict access to its REST endpoints at the web server or WAF level. This is a compensating control, not a fix.
- Check public pages with HootBoard boards for unexpected script content and clean stored entries.
Exploitation
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild found.
- Not listed in CISA KEV. EPSS about 0.18% at the time of the GitHub alert.
- Public proof of concept: unclear, not confirmed.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
Our recommendation
- Identify WordPress sites running HootBoard 3.1.4 or earlier.
- Remove the plugin, since no fix is available and the plugin appears unmaintained.
- If bulletin-board functionality is needed, use a maintained alternative.
- Check existing content for injected scripts and have administrators log out and review admin accounts.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- WPScan vulnerability entry wpscan.com
- GitHub vulnerability alert CVE-2026-86798 github.com
- OpenCVE CVE-2026-86798 app.opencve.io
- VulDB CVE-2026-86798 vuldb.com
- Patchstack advisory via Vulners vulners.com
- Positive Technologies PT-2026-110042 vulners.com
- WordPress plugin page HootBoard wordpress.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 31 Oct 2026, 20:38.
Original description (NVD)
The HootBoard WordPress plugin through 3.1.4 does not perform any authorisation check on some of its REST endpoints, and does not escape the values stored through them before outputting them in a public page, allowing unauthenticated users to inject arbitrary web scripts that will execute in the browser of anyone visiting that page, including administrators.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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