CVE-2022-43468Network attack vector

Unauthenticated view-count manipulation via REST tracking endpoint

Published Dec 7, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Improper initialization in Hector Cabrera WP Popular Posts 6.0.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to alter article view counts. The unauthenticated REST tracking endpoint passes crafted tracking input to update_views_count, which records a view without verifying that a genuine article view occurred. Any network client that can reach the WordPress REST API can falsify popularity rankings, while the published impact is limited to view-count integrity.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.85%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper initialization in Hector Cabrera WP Popular Posts 6.0.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to alter article view counts. The unauthenticated REST tracking endpoint passes crafted tracking input to update_views_count, which records a view without verifying that a genuine article view occurred. Any network client that can reach the WordPress REST API can falsify popularity rankings, while the published impact is limited to view-count integrity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-43468
Published
Dec 7, 2022
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Hector Cabrera
Product
WP Popular Posts
Classifications
CWE-454, CWE-665, T1565.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 7, 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=6.0.5 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Hector Cabrera · WP Popular Postsversion=6.0.5 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

5.3JPCERT/CCCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
5.0JPCERT/CCAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.3WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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 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-454External Initialization of Trusted Variables or Data Stores
CWE-665Improper Initialization
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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