CVE-2022-3462: The Highlight Focus WordPress plugin through 1.1 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which coul

Routine

MEDIUM 4.8DOWNGRADE

CVE-2022-3462 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.8) affecting highlight focus. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The Highlight Focus WordPress plugin through 1.1 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	4.8 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	High
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.6% (top 52%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-79
Published	2022-11-07
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): WPScan · Vendor: highlight focus project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2022-11-07 10:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 04:59 UTCUpdated Record last modified

highlight focus project highlight focus DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy highlight-focus || rpm -q highlight-focus || highlight-focus --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison highlight-focus sudo apt install highlight-focus=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1> sudo apt-mark hold highlight-focus

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list highlight-focus sudo dnf downgrade highlight-focus-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1> sudo dnf versionlock add highlight-focus

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2022-3462?

highlight focus: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2022-3462 being exploited?

CVE-2022-3462 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2022-3462 affect?

CVE-2022-3462 affects highlight focus. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.8). The Highlight Focus WordPress plugin through 1.1 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability

How urgent is CVE-2022-3462?

Priority 34/100. Public exploit reference

Software pages

WordPress vulnerabilities

References

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