CVE-2022-38456Network attack vector

Authenticated post metadata disclosure via unprotected AJAX endpoint

Published Mar 15, 2023 · Updated Apr 28, 2026

Missing authorization in WPDreams Ajax Search Lite 4.10.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to read post metadata. The searchCF function serves requested post metadata through an unprotected WordPress AJAX endpoint without checking the caller's capability. A subscriber account is sufficient to query data that the account could not otherwise access, while no write or service-interruption impact is reported.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.55%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in WPDreams Ajax Search Lite 4.10.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to read post metadata. The searchCF function serves requested post metadata through an unprotected WordPress AJAX endpoint without checking the caller's capability. A subscriber account is sufficient to query data that the account could not otherwise access, while no write or service-interruption impact is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-38456
Published
Mar 15, 2023
Updated
Apr 28, 2026
Vendor
Ernest Marcinko
Product
Ajax Search Lite
Classifications
CWE-200, T1213
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 15, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 28, 2026Record 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=n/a <=4.10.3 changes=[{"at":"4.11","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Ernest Marcinko · Ajax Search Liteversion=n/a <=4.10.3 changes=[{"at":"4.11","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

4.3PatchstackCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
T1213Data from Information Repositories

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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