CVE-2022-23081Network attack vector

Script execution via unescaped href attributes

Published Jun 22, 2022 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Reflected XSS in Open Library deploy-2016-07-0 through deploy-2021-12-22 allows remote attackers to execute script via crafted URLs. Multiple web.py templates place changequery-derived URLs into href attributes with raw-output expressions, bypassing contextual escaping of attacker-controlled query values. A victim must follow a crafted link; the injected script then runs in the Open Library origin and can modify content or perform browser-session actions.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.98%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Reflected XSS in Open Library deploy-2016-07-0 through deploy-2021-12-22 allows remote attackers to execute script via crafted URLs. Multiple web.py templates place changequery-derived URLs into href attributes with raw-output expressions, bypassing contextual escaping of attacker-controlled query values. A victim must follow a crafted link; the injected script then runs in the Open Library origin and can modify content or perform browser-session actions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-23081
Published
Jun 22, 2022
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Open Library Foundation
Product
Open Library
Classifications
CWE-79, T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 22, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2024Record 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=deploy-2019-10-16/sponsorship <unspecified
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=deploy-2021-12-22

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Open Library Foundation · Open Libraryversion=deploy-2019-10-16/sponsorship <unspecified; version=unspecified <=deploy-2021-12-22

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 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')
T1204.001Malicious Link

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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