Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This vulnerability lets an unauthenticated attacker store malicious script in a WordPress site using ARForms Form Builder. The script would run only when another user views the affected content, so business risk centers on account misuse, defacement-like behavior, and data exposure in the victim’s browser.
Executive priority
Treat as a medium-priority web application risk. Prioritize externally reachable WordPress sites, sites with privileged administrators frequently reviewing form content, and environments handling customer or regulated data.
Technical view
CVE-2022-45838 is an unauthenticated stored XSS issue in Repute InfoSystems ARForms Form Builder, reported for versions up to 1.5.5. CVSS 3.1 is 6.1: network reachable, low complexity, no privileges, user interaction required, changed scope, low confidentiality and integrity impact, no availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites with the ARForms Form Builder plugin installed and within the reported vulnerable range. The bundle does not provide CPEs or a confirmed fixed version, so asset owners should verify installed plugin names and versions directly.
Exploitation context
The source bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. The issue is still meaningful because unauthenticated stored XSS can persist until viewed by an administrator, editor, customer, or other trusted user.
Researcher notes
The provided evidence identifies CWE-79 stored XSS and a CVSS vector requiring user interaction. The bundle does not name a fixed version, affected CPEs, exploit availability, or detailed vulnerable parameters. Avoid assuming broader ARForms products are affected without vendor evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the arforms-form-builder plugin.
- Check Patchstack and vendor guidance for a fixed or safe version.
- Update the plugin if a vendor-supported fixed release is available.
- Disable or remove the plugin where it is unused or cannot be updated.
- Review affected forms and stored submissions for suspicious content.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether ARForms Form Builder is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record the installed plugin version and compare it with the reported affected range.
- Review vulnerability management data for CVE-2022-45838 on WordPress assets.
- Check administrative and form-related pages for unexpected script behavior.
- Verify remediation by confirming the plugin is updated, disabled, or removed.
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-2022-45838 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
- 6.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N2.82.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
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.