CVE-2022-43497Network attack vector

Browser script execution via Post by Email

Published Dec 5, 2022 · Updated Apr 24, 2025

Stored cross-site scripting in WordPress before 6.0.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary script in visitors' browsers. The wp-mail.php Post by Email path stores email-derived post content without adequately neutralizing script markup before later page rendering. The attacker needs no WordPress account, but successful exploitation requires Post by Email processing and a visitor to open the resulting page.

CVSS severity6.1
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

Stored cross-site scripting in WordPress before 6.0.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary script in visitors' browsers. The wp-mail.php Post by Email path stores email-derived post content without adequately neutralizing script markup before later page rendering. The attacker needs no WordPress account, but successful exploitation requires Post by Email processing and a visitor to open the resulting page.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-43497
Published
Dec 5, 2022
Updated
Apr 24, 2025
Vendor
WordPress.org
Product
WordPress
Classifications
CWE-79, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 5, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 24, 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=versions prior to 6.0.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

WordPress.org · WordPressversion=versions prior to 6.0.3

Published CVSS scores

6.1CISA ADP VulnrichmentCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/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')
T1059.007Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript/JScript

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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