---
id: "CVE-2026-109216"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-109216"]
title: "Meta Box WordPress plugin: stored XSS via profile background parameter"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 4.9
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["meta-box", "package", "self-hosted", "wordpress"]
not_affected_if: ["auth-required", "default-config"]
published_at: "2026-10-29T12:17:09+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-29T12:24:38+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-29T12:25:40+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-109216", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-29T12:24:38+00:00"}]
---

# Meta Box WordPress plugin: stored XSS via profile background parameter

The Meta Box WordPress plugin up to and including 5.15.2 does not sanitize or escape the 'profile_background' parameter, so stored values can contain scripts. An authenticated user with subscriber-level access can inject JavaScript that runs in the browser of anyone who views the affected page.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check whether the site runs the Meta Box plugin and note its version in the WordPress plugins list or `wp plugin get meta-box --field=version`
- Look for a consuming plugin or theme that exposes the background field to subscribers and renders it with `rwmb_the_value()` or `format_single_value()`

## Fix

- Move the Meta Box plugin to a version later than `5.15.2` (the sources do not name the exact fixed release)

## Timeline

- 2026-10-29T12:24:38+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-109216

## From the sources

The Meta Box – A Framework for Dynamic Websites plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'profile_background[<attacker-chosen key>]' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 5.15.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. Exploitability depends on a consuming plugin or theme built on Meta Box that exposes the background field to lower-privileged users and renders stored values via the rwmb_the_value()/format_single_value() pattern; the effective minimum privilege is whatever role that consumer permits, demonstrated at Subscriber level.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_