# CVE-2023-40330: WordPress GD Security Headers Plugin <= 1.6.1 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS)

> An unauthenticated attacker can execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser via reflected XSS in the GD Security Headers plugin.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **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:** 27 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 28 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5mx8-3m53-qgv6

## What is CVE-2023-40330?

CVE-2023-40330 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Milan Petrovic GD Security Headers, published on 27 Sep 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

Unauth. Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Milan Petrovic GD Security Headers plugin <= 1.6.1 versions.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-40330?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Dev4press Gd Security Headers.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-40330?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-40330 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-40330 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-40330 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Milan Petrovic GD Security Headers

- [CVE-2023-46821](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-46821/): WordPress GD Security Headers Plugin <= 1.7 is vulnerable to SQL Injection (high 7.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-40330 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-40330 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Milan Petrovic GD Security Headers, published on 27 Sep 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: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-40330 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Milan Petrovic GD Security Headers. 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-2023-40330/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40330/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-40330
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40330
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-40330

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40330/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.