CVE-2023-5295Network attack vector

Contributor-level stored XSS via unescaped shortcode attributes

Published Sep 30, 2023 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Stored XSS in Comments by Startbit 1.4 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts through the vivafbcomment shortcode. The shortcode handler accepts user-controlled attributes and returns them in generated page markup without adequate sanitization or context-appropriate output escaping. Contributor-level access is required to store a payload, which runs when a visitor opens the affected page and can act within that visitor's web session.

CVSS severity6.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.36%
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 Comments by Startbit 1.4 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute scripts through the vivafbcomment shortcode. The shortcode handler accepts user-controlled attributes and returns them in generated page markup without adequate sanitization or context-appropriate output escaping. Contributor-level access is required to store a payload, which runs when a visitor opens the affected page and can act within that visitor's web session.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5295
Published
Sep 30, 2023
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
Startbit IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Product
Comments by Startbit
Classifications
CWE-79, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 30, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 8, 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=0 <=1.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Startbit IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd. · Comments by Startbitversion=0 <=1.4

Published CVSS scores

5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
6.4WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1059.007Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript

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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