ConvertPlus: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
CVE-2026-87741 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability in ConvertPlus from Brainstorm Force, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected ConvertPlus versions: 3.6.3 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.39% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of ConvertPlus you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brainstorm Force | ConvertPlus | 3.6.3 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (wordfence.com).
Official description
The ConvertPlus plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Deserialization of Untrusted Data in all versions up to, and including, 3.6.3 via the style parameter of the cp_display_preview_modal AJAX action. The vulnerability exists because the action's nonce guard is gated behind an isset() check and fails open when the cp_admin_page_nonce parameter is omitted entirely, no capability check is performed on the callback, and sanitize_text_field() — applied to the $style value before it is concatenated directly into a shortcode string evaluated by do_shortcode() — does not strip shortcode delimiters, allowing an attacker to inject a second, fully attacker-controlled [smile_modal] invocation that causes smile_modal_popup() to pass attacker-supplied base64-decoded bytes to maybe_unserialize() with no allowed_classes restriction. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to inject a PHP object. No known POP chain is present in the vulnerable software, which means this vulnerability has no impact unless another plugin or theme containing a POP chain is installed on the site. If a POP chain is present via an additional plugin or theme installed on the target system, it may allow the attacker to perform actions like delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute code depending on the POP chain present.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
- For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities (CWE-78)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in ConvertPlus
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
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