# CVE-2023-6999: Pods - Custom Content Types and Fields - Authenticated (Contributor+) Remote Code Execution

> Authenticated contributors can execute arbitrary code on the server via a shortcode vulnerability in the Pods WordPress plugin.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Apr 2024
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cm43-2v3p-vgjx

## What is CVE-2023-6999?

CVE-2023-6999 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in sc0ttkclark Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields, published on 9 Apr 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Exxecution via shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 3.0.10 (with the exception of 2.7.31.2, 2.8.23.2, 2.9.19.2). This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor level access or higher, to execute code on the server.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6999?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Podsfoundation Pods.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-6999?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-6999 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-6999 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-6999 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in sc0ttkclark Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields

- [CVE-2023-6967](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6967/): Pods - Custom Content Types and Fields - Authenticated (Contributor+) SQL Injection via Shortcode (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-23790](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23790/): WordPress Pods Plugin <= 2.9.10.2 is vulnerable to Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (high 7.1)
- [CVE-2024-11849](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-11849/): Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields < 3.2.8.1 - Admin+ Stored XSS (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2021-24338](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24338/): Pods < 2.7.27 - Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2021-24339](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24339/): Pods < 2.7.27 - Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-6999 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-6999 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in sc0ttkclark Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields, published on 9 Apr 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-6999 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: sc0ttkclark Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields. 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-2023-6999/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6999/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6999
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6999
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-6999

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6999/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.