CVE-2022-21662
Stored XSS in WordPress
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description
WordPress is a free and open-source content management system written in PHP and paired with a MariaDB database. Low-privileged authenticated users (like author) in WordPress core are able to execute JavaScript/perform stored XSS attack, which can affect high-privileged users. This has been patched in WordPress version 5.8.3. Older affected versions are also fixed via security release, that go back till 3.7.37. We strongly recommend that you keep auto-updates enabled. There are no known workarounds for this issue.
Official description from the CVE record, published by GitHub_M. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
CVSS 3.1 High 8.0
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector: Network
The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet.
Attack complexity: High
The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation.
Privileges required: Low
A basic user account is needed.
User interaction: Required
A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link.
Scope: Changed
The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact: High
Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: High
Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: High
Serious or total effect on availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. |
| Attack complexity | High | The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation. |
| Privileges required | Low | A basic user account is needed. |
| User interaction | Required | A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link. |
| Scope | Changed | The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one. |
| Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. |
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EPSS
- Score
- 0.64529 (64.5% probability)
- Percentile
- 99.2%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
CISA assessment as of Apr 23, 2025
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation
Affected products
wordpress-develop
- affected: < 5.8.3
References
- wordpress.org/news/2022/01/wordpress-5-8-3-security-release
- github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/…
- DSA-5039 (debian.org)vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2022-8472dd59ff (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2022-e37e1e6c7a (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20220123 [SECURITY] [DLA 2884-1] wordpress security update (lists.debian.org)mailing-list
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Record last updated
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About CubePath
Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:51 UTC. Sources and licenses