Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
WordPress sites using GS Testimonial Slider version 1.9.6 or older may let a logged-in contributor store script content that later runs for another user. This is not listed as actively exploited, but it can enable unauthorized page changes or malicious actions in a victim's browser context.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate website integrity risk. It is not KEV-listed and needs authenticated access, but affected public WordPress sites should be remediated during normal vulnerability patch cycles, faster where many contributors exist.
Technical view
CVE-2022-40213 is multiple authenticated stored XSS in GS Plugins GS Testimonial Slider for WordPress, affecting versions <= 1.9.6. CVSS 3.1 is 4.1: network reachable, low complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, low integrity impact, no confidentiality or availability impact stated.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress installations running GS Testimonial Slider <= 1.9.6. Risk increases where contributor-level or higher accounts are broadly issued, weakly protected, or compromised, and where stored testimonial content is viewed by administrators, editors, or site visitors.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV status or cited active exploitation. Exploitation requires an authenticated contributor-or-higher user and a victim viewing affected stored content. The available evidence does not identify public exploit tooling or a specific fixed version.
Researcher notes
The evidence supports CWE-79 stored XSS with PR:L and UI:R. The bundle identifies affected versions <= 1.9.6 but does not name a fixed version or mitigation specifics. Avoid assuming exploit availability, impacted endpoints, or patch status beyond cited sources.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for GS Testimonial Slider installations and versions.
- Check vendor and Patchstack guidance for a fixed release, then update if available.
- Disable or remove the plugin where no acceptable fixed version is available.
- Restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only.
- Review contributor accounts for compromise or unnecessary privileges.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether GS Testimonial Slider is installed on each WordPress site.
- Verify installed plugin version is greater than 1.9.6 or otherwise remediated.
- Review user roles for contributor-level or higher accounts.
- Inspect recent testimonial-related content changes for unexpected scripts or markup.
- Confirm remediation against vendor or Patchstack advisory details.
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-2022-40213 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
- 4.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/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:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N2.31.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/gs-testimonial/#developersCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/gs-testimonial/wordpress-gs-testimonial-slider-plugin-1-9-6-multiple-authenticated-stored-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerabilities/_s_id=cveCVE 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.