CVE-2023-28664Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated script execution via incorrect output escaping

Published Mar 22, 2023 · Updated Feb 25, 2025

Reflected XSS in PluginUs MDTF before 1.3.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute script through a crafted tax_name value. The mdf_get_tax_options_in_widget AJAX action applies esc_html__ incorrectly and reflects the value without effective output encoding. A valid WordPress account and visitor interaction are required; successful exploitation runs attacker-controlled script in the visitor's browser context.

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

Reflected XSS in PluginUs MDTF before 1.3.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute script through a crafted tax_name value. The mdf_get_tax_options_in_widget AJAX action applies esc_html__ incorrectly and reflects the value without effective output encoding. A valid WordPress account and visitor interaction are required; successful exploitation runs attacker-controlled script in the visitor's browser context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28664
Published
Mar 22, 2023
Updated
Feb 25, 2025
Vendor
PluginUs
Product
MDTF – Meta Data and Taxonomies Filter
Classifications
CWE-79, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 25, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 1.3.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

PluginUs · MDTF – Meta Data and Taxonomies Filterversion=< 1.3.1

Published CVSS scores

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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