# CVE-2023-23491: Cross-site scripting in Quick Event Manager WordPress Plugin

> Reflected XSS in Quick Event Manager allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts via the category parameter.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 3 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8vf4-cp85-x9v7

## What is CVE-2023-23491?

CVE-2023-23491 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Quick Event Manager WordPress Plugin, published on 20 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The Quick Event Manager WordPress Plugin, version < 9.7.5, is affected by a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability in the 'category' parameter of its 'qem_ajax_calendar' action.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-23491?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Fullworksplugins Quick Event Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-23491?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-23491 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-23491 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-23491 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Quick Event Manager < 9.7.5 - Cross-Site Scripting (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-23491.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Quick Event Manager WordPress Plugin

- [CVE-2023-23979](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23979/): WordPress Quick Event Manager Plugin <= 9.7.4 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) (high 7.1)
- [CVE-2022-46863](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-46863/): WordPress Quick Event Manager Plugin <= 9.6.4 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) (medium 5.9)
- [CVE-2023-23974](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23974/): WordPress Quick Event Manager Plugin <= 9.7.4 is vulnerable to Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-23491 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-23491 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Quick Event Manager WordPress Plugin, published on 20 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-23491 exists.

Affected product: Quick Event Manager WordPress Plugin. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23491/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23491/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-23491
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-23491
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-23491

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23491/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.