CVE-2022-21715Network attack vector

Cross-site scripting via HTTP-callable response helpers

Published Jan 24, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Cross-site scripting in CodeIgniter 4 before 4.1.8 allows remote attackers to run script in a victim's browser through API\ResponseTrait. Legacy Auto Routing treats the trait's public response helpers as HTTP-callable controller methods, allowing route arguments to reach generated responses without safe neutralization. Exposure requires an application using API\ResponseTrait or ResourceController with legacy Auto Routing enabled, and a victim must interact with the crafted response; script execution can read or alter data available to that browser session.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability1.00%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cross-site scripting in CodeIgniter 4 before 4.1.8 allows remote attackers to run script in a victim's browser through API\ResponseTrait. Legacy Auto Routing treats the trait's public response helpers as HTTP-callable controller methods, allowing route arguments to reach generated responses without safe neutralization. Exposure requires an application using API\ResponseTrait or ResourceController with legacy Auto Routing enabled, and a victim must interact with the crafted response; script execution can read or alter data available to that browser session.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-21715
Published
Jan 24, 2022
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
CodeIgniter Foundation
Product
CodeIgniter 4
Classifications
CWE-79, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 24, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 23, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 4.1.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

CodeIgniter Foundation · CodeIgniter 4version=< 4.1.8

Published CVSS scores

5.4GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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