CVE-2023-5618Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Stored script execution via unescaped shortcode attributes

Published Oct 20, 2023 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Stored XSS in Prism Tech Studios Modern Footnotes 1.4.16 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject scripts via shortcode attributes. The mfn shortcode inserts an attacker-controlled class attribute into generated footnote markup without sufficient sanitization or output escaping. Contributor-level access is enough to store the payload, which executes in another user's browser when the injected element is triggered.

CVSS severity6.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.40%
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 Prism Tech Studios Modern Footnotes 1.4.16 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject scripts via shortcode attributes. The mfn shortcode inserts an attacker-controlled class attribute into generated footnote markup without sufficient sanitization or output escaping. Contributor-level access is enough to store the payload, which executes in another user's browser when the injected element is triggered.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5618
Published
Oct 20, 2023
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
Prism Tech Studios
Product
Modern Footnotes
Classifications
CWE-79, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 20, 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 <=1.4.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Prism Tech Studios · Modern Footnotesversion=0 <=1.4.16

Published CVSS scores

6.4WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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')
T1059.007JavaScript/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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