Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Sites running Contest Gallery up to 13.1.0.9 may allow an Author-level or higher user to store malicious script that runs when another user views affected content. Business impact is limited but real, especially on sites with many contributors.
Executive priority
Handle as scheduled remediation, not emergency response, unless the site has untrusted contributors or evidence of suspicious content changes. Prioritize public sites with many content authors.
Technical view
CVE-2022-27853 is a stored XSS issue (CWE-79) in Contest Gallery for WordPress <=13.1.0.9. CVSS 3.1 is 4.8: network reachable, low complexity, high privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, and low confidentiality/integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites using the Contest Gallery plugin at version 13.1.0.9 or earlier, particularly where Author or higher accounts are broadly assigned or weakly governed.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Exploitation requires authenticated Author-level or higher access and a victim viewing affected stored content, reducing broad internet-scale risk.
Researcher notes
Evidence identifies affected product, version range, CWE, and CVSS vector, but does not provide exploit details or a named fixed version in the bundle. Avoid assuming active exploitation or exact patch level without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Contest Gallery plugin usage and version.
- Review vendor and Patchstack guidance for the fixed or recommended version.
- Update Contest Gallery beyond the affected <=13.1.0.9 range when available.
- Restrict Author or higher roles to trusted users only.
- Review contributor accounts for stale, shared, or weakly protected access.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Contest Gallery is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record the installed plugin version and compare it to <=13.1.0.9.
- Review WordPress users with Author, Editor, Administrator, or equivalent roles.
- Check security logs for unusual content changes by privileged contributors.
- Verify remediation through plugin version evidence after update.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-27853 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N1.72.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.8MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/contest-gallery/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/contest-gallery/wordpress-contest-gallery-plugin-13-1-0-9-authenticated-stored-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerabilityCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.