CVE-2022-4897Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Administrator-session script execution via unescaped AJAX parameters

Published Feb 21, 2023 · Updated Mar 14, 2025

Reflected XSS in iThemes BackupBuddy before 8.8.3 allows remote attackers to run scripts in an administrator's browser via crafted requests. The pb_backupbuddy_backupbuddy AJAX action writes the step, file, archive, serial, callback_data, and sending parameters into responses without sanitizing and escaping them. Exploitation requires an administrator or super administrator to open a crafted URL or submit a crafted form, exposing data and actions available in that browser session.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.86%
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 iThemes BackupBuddy before 8.8.3 allows remote attackers to run scripts in an administrator's browser via crafted requests. The pb_backupbuddy_backupbuddy AJAX action writes the step, file, archive, serial, callback_data, and sending parameters into responses without sanitizing and escaping them. Exploitation requires an administrator or super administrator to open a crafted URL or submit a crafted form, exposing data and actions available in that browser session.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-4897
Published
Feb 21, 2023
Updated
Mar 14, 2025
Vendor
iThemes
Product
BackupBuddy
Classifications
CWE-79, T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 21, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 14, 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=0 <8.8.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

iThemes · BackupBuddyversion=0 <8.8.3

Published CVSS scores

6.1CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
6.1NIST NVDCVSS: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 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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1204.001User Execution: Malicious Link

Public exploit references

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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