CVE-2023-49846Network attack vector

Contributor-level stored XSS via unescaped shortcode input

Published Dec 14, 2023 · Updated Apr 28, 2026

Stored XSS in Paul Bearne Author Avatars List/Block 2.1.17 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to run scripts in visitors' browsers. The shortcode renderer outputs contributor-controlled shortcode input without the escaping required before inserting it into generated pages. Contributor access is required to store a payload, and execution occurs when another user visits the affected content.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.39%
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 Paul Bearne Author Avatars List/Block 2.1.17 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to run scripts in visitors' browsers. The shortcode renderer outputs contributor-controlled shortcode input without the escaping required before inserting it into generated pages. Contributor access is required to store a payload, and execution occurs when another user visits the affected content.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-49846
Published
Dec 14, 2023
Updated
Apr 28, 2026
Vendor
Paul Bearne
Product
Author Avatars List/Block
Classifications
CWE-79, CAPEC-592, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 14, 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

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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=n/a <=2.1.17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Paul Bearne · Author Avatars List/Blockversion=n/a <=2.1.17

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
CAPEC-592Stored XSS
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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