CVE-2022-45839Network attack vector

Browser script execution via unescaped shortcode attributes

Published Apr 18, 2023 · Updated Apr 28, 2026

Stored XSS in Web Help Agency WHA Puzzle 1.0.9 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts through puzzle shortcodes. The plugin outputs attacker-controlled shortcode attributes in a page or post without validating or escaping them. Contributor-level access is required to store the payload, and script execution occurs when another user views the affected content.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stored XSS in Web Help Agency WHA Puzzle 1.0.9 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts through puzzle shortcodes. The plugin outputs attacker-controlled shortcode attributes in a page or post without validating or escaping them. Contributor-level access is required to store the payload, and script execution occurs when another user views the affected content.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-45839
Published
Apr 18, 2023
Updated
Apr 28, 2026
Vendor
Web Help Agency
Product
WHA Puzzle
Classifications
CWE-79, CAPEC-592, T1189
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 18, 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 <=1.0.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Web Help Agency · WHA Puzzleversion=n/a <=1.0.9

Published CVSS scores

5.4NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
5.3PatchstackCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
CAPEC-592Stored XSS
T1189Drive-by Compromise

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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