Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in WordPress - CVE-2022-43500

wordpress Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

05/12/2022
N/A
Yes i
Medium
6.1

CVE-2022-43500: Cross-site scripting vulnerability in WordPress versions prior to 6.0.3 allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to inject an arbitrary script. Affects wordpress across 3 version ranges.

< 5.7.8+dfsg1-0+deb11u1 < 1015e926e9dd093fd57abbf0cb38c2ead1b18606 < 756915de8c5dbe6c9b210299ec8ce8d524f9dfaf

Fixed in 5.7.8+dfsg1-0+deb11u1. How to fix ↓

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Background

WordPress is a widely-used open-source content management system (CMS) that enables users to create and manage websites easily. It offers a range of features including customizable themes, plugins, and a user-friendly interface. However, like any software, WordPress is susceptible to vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS) issues, which can allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

Vulnerability Detail

CVE-2022-43500 is a cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects WordPress versions prior to 6.0.3. This vulnerability allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to inject arbitrary scripts into web pages. The origin of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation, which can lead to the execution of malicious scripts in the context of the user's browser. The ramifications can include data theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user, making it critical to address.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

5.7.8+dfsg1-0+deb11u1

This is the first release that contains the fix.

sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade wordpress

Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →

Workaround

If immediate updating is not possible, consider disabling any plugins or themes that may be vulnerable until a patch can be applied. Additionally, ensure that input validation is enforced on user-generated content to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-43500 is a significant cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting WordPress versions prior to 6.0.3. It is crucial for users to update their installations to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Regular monitoring for vulnerabilities, such as through Vulert, can help maintain the security of your applications.

See every vulnerability recorded for wordpress →

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FAQ

CVE-2022-43500 is a cross-site scripting vulnerability in WordPress that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts.

All WordPress versions prior to 6.0.3 are affected by this vulnerability.

You can check your WordPress version in the admin dashboard. If it is below 6.0.3, it is vulnerable.

The potential impacts include data theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users.

You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time using a manifest file like package-lock.json.

Related vulnerabilities

Recent vulnerabilities recorded for wordpress.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

5.7.8+dfsg1-0+deb11u1

This is the first release that contains the fix.

sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade wordpress

Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →

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