WordPress HTML Language Attribute Escaping

The HTML lang attribute is used to identify the language of the web application. This attribute helps search engines return language specific results. It is also used by screen readers that switch language profiles. Old versions of WordPress is vulnerable to this vulnerability.An issue in WordPress caused applications not to properly escape the lang attribute of an HTML element in In wp-includes/general-template.php. This issue might allow an attacker to exploit XSS via the language setting of a site.

Impact and Fixes

Written by

Sooraj V Nair

Cyber Security Engineer

Sooraj was probably the kid who opened up a remote control just to see what was inside, then had to figure out how to put it back together before anyone noticed. That curiosity eventually found its way into cybersecurity, where breaking things is actually part of the job description. Today, he explores vulnerabilities, analysis threats, and helps build safer digital spaces. His favourite question remains the same: “What happens if I try this?”