CVE-2023-0541Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Stored XSS via unescaped shortcode attribute

Published Feb 21, 2023 · Updated Mar 12, 2025

Stored XSS in GS Plugins GS Books Showcase before 1.3.1 allows remote authenticated users to run script in visitors' browsers. The gs_book_showcase shortcode emits its theme attribute into page output without validation or escaping, so an injected event handler is stored with the post. Contributor-level access is required to save the crafted shortcode, and execution occurs when a visitor renders the affected page or post.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.61%
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 GS Plugins GS Books Showcase before 1.3.1 allows remote authenticated users to run script in visitors' browsers. The gs_book_showcase shortcode emits its theme attribute into page output without validation or escaping, so an injected event handler is stored with the post. Contributor-level access is required to save the crafted shortcode, and execution occurs when a visitor renders the affected page or post.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0541
Published
Feb 21, 2023
Updated
Mar 12, 2025
Vendor
GS Plugins
Product
GS Books Showcase
Classifications
CWE-79
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 21, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 12, 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 <1.3.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GS Plugins · GS Books Showcaseversion=0 <1.3.1

Published CVSS scores

5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
6.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

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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