CVE-2022-4973 - WordPress Core < 6.0.2 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via use of the_meta(); function

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MEDIUM

WordPress Core < 6.0.2 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via use of the_meta(); function

Published Oct 16, 2024

5.4

MEDIUM

CVSS 3.1

EPSS 0.45%

Description

WordPress Core, in versions up to 6.0.2, is vulnerable to Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting that can be exploited by users with access to the WordPress post and page editor, typically consisting of Authors, Contributors, and Editors making it possible to inject arbitrary web scripts into posts and pages that execute if the the_meta(); function is called on that page.

Affected products

Vendor WordPress Foundation Product WordPress Default
unaffected
- Version
  0
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=3.6.1
- Version
  3.7
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=3.7.38
- Version
  3.8
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=3.8.38
- Version
  3.9
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=3.9.36
- Version
  4.0
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.0.35
- Version
  4.1
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.1.35
- Version
  4.2
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.2.32
- Version
  4.3
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.3.28
- Version
  4.4
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.4.27
- Version
  4.5
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.5.26
- Version
  4.6
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.6.23
- Version
  4.7
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.7.23
- Version
  4.8
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.8.19
- Version
  4.9
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=4.9.20
- Version
  5.0
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.0.16
- Version
  5.1
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.1.13
- Version
  5.2
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.2.15
- Version
  5.3
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.3.12
- Version
  5.4
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.4.10
- Version
  5.5
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.5.9
- Version
  5.6
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.6.8
- Version
  5.7
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.7.6
- Version
  5.8
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.8.4
- Version
  5.9
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=5.9.3
- Version
  6.0
  Status
  affected
  Constraints
  <=6.0.1

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor

Product

Default status

Versions

WordPress Foundation

WordPress

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
0	affected	<=3.6.1
3.7	affected	<=3.7.38
3.8	affected	<=3.8.38
3.9	affected	<=3.9.36
4.0	affected	<=4.0.35
4.1	affected	<=4.1.35
4.2	affected	<=4.2.32
4.3	affected	<=4.3.28
4.4	affected	<=4.4.27
4.5	affected	<=4.5.26
4.6	affected	<=4.6.23
4.7	affected	<=4.7.23
4.8	affected	<=4.8.19
4.9	affected	<=4.9.20
5.0	affected	<=5.0.16
5.1	affected	<=5.1.13
5.2	affected	<=5.2.15
5.3	affected	<=5.3.12
5.4	affected	<=5.4.10
5.5	affected	<=5.5.9
5.6	affected	<=5.6.8
5.7	affected	<=5.7.6
5.8	affected	<=5.8.4
5.9	affected	<=5.9.3
6.0	affected	<=6.0.1

Remediation

No remediation recorded yet.

Metrics

0.45% 0.00449

Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 4, 2026.

EPSS probability 0.00449

Score over time

2024-2026

EPSS v3
EPSS v4
EPSS v5

Percentile over time

EPSS v3
EPSS v4
EPSS v5

Table of values (8 key points)

Flat stretches are collapsed. Showing up to 120 newest points.

Date	Score	Percentile	Model
Oct 4, 2026	0.45% (0.00449)	36.83th	v5 (v2026.06.15)
Jun 15, 2026	0.46% (0.00456)	35.98th	v5 (v2026.06.15)
Nov 24, 2025	1.22% (0.01221)	78.48th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Mar 30, 2025	0.16% (0.00163)	33.84th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Mar 29, 2025	9.15% (0.09151)	87.67th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Mar 17, 2025	0.13% (0.00129)	29.91th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Dec 12, 2024	0.11% (0.00115)	46.74th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
Oct 17, 2024	0.07% (0.00068)	30.98th	v3 (v2023.03.01)

Weaknesses (1)

CWE-79

Cross-site Scripting (XSS)

References (4)

https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/53961
Patch
https://wordpress.org/news/2022/08/wordpress-6-0-2-security-and-maintenance-release/
Release Notes
https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2022/08/wordpress-core-6-0-2-security-maintenance-release-what-you-need-to-know/
Third Party Advisory
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b5582e89-83e6-4898-b9fe-09eddeb5f7ae?source=cve
Third Party Advisory

Link	Providers	Tags
https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/53961		Patch
https://wordpress.org/news/2022/08/wordpress-6-0-2-security-and-maintenance-release/		Release Notes
https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2022/08/wordpress-core-6-0-2-security-maintenance-release-what-you-need-to-know/		Third Party Advisory
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b5582e89-83e6-4898-b9fe-09eddeb5f7ae?source=cve		Third Party Advisory