CVE-2023-0542Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Stored XSS via unescaped shortcode category input

Published May 8, 2023 · Updated Feb 4, 2025

Stored XSS in Custom Post Type List Shortcode 1.4.4 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject scripts through shortcode attributes. The cpt_list shortcode places an attacker-controlled category value and matching category name into page markup without validation or escaping. Contributor-level access is sufficient, and the injected script executes when a user visits the affected page or post.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.44%
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 Custom Post Type List Shortcode 1.4.4 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject scripts through shortcode attributes. The cpt_list shortcode places an attacker-controlled category value and matching category name into page markup without validation or escaping. Contributor-level access is sufficient, and the injected script executes when a user visits the affected page or post.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0542
Published
May 8, 2023
Updated
Feb 4, 2025
Vendor
Blackbird Interactive
Product
Custom Post Type List Shortcode
Classifications
CWE-79, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 4, 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 <=1.4.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Blackbird Interactive · Custom Post Type List Shortcodeversion=0 <=1.4.4

Published CVSS scores

5.4CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

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

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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