# CVE-2026-84220: Kirki WordPress plugin unauthenticated shortcode execution via comments

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-84220-the-kirki-wordpress-plugin-before-6-3-2-does-not-prevent  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-09. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-84220 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.8 · Published 2026-10-09

Kirki is a WordPress plugin that manages customization settings for WordPress themes. The plugin fails to sanitize shortcodes in comments and displays unmoderated comments publicly, allowing unauthenticated visitors to execute arbitrary shortcodes and access private custom field data. An attacker could exploit this to run malicious code or extract sensitive information from the affected WordPress site.

Vendors: [Kirki](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/kirki).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-84220 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-84220 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-84220?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.8, published 9 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Kirki before 6.3.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-84220?** Yes: fixed in 6.3.2. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-84220 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-84220?** Check whether you run Kirki at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 6.3.2

## Technical details

The vulnerability is an arbitrary shortcode execution flaw in the comments rendering functionality. The plugin does not sanitize shortcode syntax in comment content and displays comments regardless of moderation status, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to inject and execute registered shortcodes without authentication. This results in arbitrary code execution and exposure of private custom fields on the affected page.

## Affected products

- Kirki Kirki before 6.3.2

## Timeline

- 2026-10-09: disclosed
- 2026-10-09: advisory

## References

- [https://wordpress.org/plugins](https://wordpress.org/plugins)
- [https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/e5cfd004-dd57-4d42-858c-fbb9b9e320f6/](https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/e5cfd004-dd57-4d42-858c-fbb9b9e320f6/)

## Related threats

- [Kirki plugin insecure direct object reference in user profile data](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-107762-the-kirki-freeform-page-builder-website-builder-customizer)