CVE-2023-38000Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Stored XSS via unsanitized arrow attribute

Published Oct 13, 2023 · Updated Apr 28, 2026

Stored XSS in affected WordPress branches and Gutenberg 16.8.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts. The render_block_core_post_navigation_link function appends an unvalidated arrow attribute to an HTML class before returning block content. Contributor-level access is required to save the crafted block, and a later page view executes the stored script in the visitor's browser.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.79%
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 affected WordPress branches and Gutenberg 16.8.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts. The render_block_core_post_navigation_link function appends an unvalidated arrow attribute to an HTML class before returning block content. Contributor-level access is required to save the crafted block, and a later page view executes the stored script in the visitor's browser.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38000
Published
Oct 13, 2023
Updated
Apr 28, 2026
Vendor
WordPress.org
Product
WordPress
Classifications
CWE-79, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 13, 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

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=5.9 <=5.9.7 changes=[{"at":"5.9.8","status":"unaffected"}]
  2. Affected versionversion=6.0 <=6.0.5 changes=[{"at":"6.0.6","status":"unaffected"}]
  3. Affected versionversion=6.1 <=6.1.3 changes=[{"at":"6.1.4","status":"unaffected"}]
  4. Affected versionversion=6.2 <=6.2.2 changes=[{"at":"6.2.3","status":"unaffected"}]
  5. Affected versionversion=6.3 <=6.3.1 changes=[{"at":"6.3.2","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

WordPress.org · WordPressversion=5.9 <=5.9.7 changes=[{"at":"5.9.8","status":"unaffected"}]; version=6.0 <=6.0.5 changes=[{"at":"6.0.6","status":"unaffected"}]; version=6.1 <=6.1.3 changes=[{"at":"6.1.4","status":"unaffected"}]; version=6.2 <=6.2.2 changes=[{"at":"6.2.3","status":"unaffected"}]; version=6.3 <=6.3.1 changes=[{"at":"6.3.2","status":"unaffected"}]
WordPress.org · Gutenbergversion=n/a <=16.8.0 changes=[{"at":"16.8.1","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
6.5PatchstackCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

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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