CVE-2026-113492 in GeoDirectory Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/24/2026
The GeoDirectory WordPress plugin before 2.8.194 does not perform status, ownership or password checks when loading listings for one of its unauthenticated AJAX handlers, allowing unauthenticated users to disclose the content of non-public (draft, pending and private) listings by supplying their IDs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2026
The vulnerability identified in GeoDirectory versions prior to 2.8.194 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms within an unauthenticated AJAX endpoint. This flaw allows attackers to bypass standard authentication and authorization checks that are typically enforced when accessing sensitive content on WordPress sites. Specifically, the affected handler responsible for loading listing data fails to validate whether the requesting user has the appropriate permissions or ownership rights relative to the specific listing ID being requested. Consequently, any individual with knowledge of a valid listing identifier can retrieve detailed information associated with that listing, regardless of its publication status.
From a technical perspective, this issue stems from insufficient input validation and missing server-side authorization logic within the AJAX routine. When an unauthenticated user submits a request containing a specific listing ID, the application processes the query without verifying if the content is publicly accessible or restricted to administrators, editors, or verified owners. This lack of enforcement means that listings marked as draft, pending review, or private are exposed through this endpoint just as easily as public posts. The absence of checks for user status and ownership creates a direct path for information disclosure, undermining the integrity of the content management system's permission model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly for businesses relying on GeoDirectory to manage sensitive business data or proprietary listings. Attackers can enumerate valid listing IDs through brute force techniques or by leveraging publicly available URLs from other sources, such as sitemaps or cached pages that may have previously exposed these identifiers. Once a valid ID is obtained, the attacker can extract comprehensive details including descriptions, contact information, images, and potentially geolocation data associated with non-public listings. This exposure violates user privacy expectations and can lead to competitive intelligence theft, harassment of business owners, or further exploitation if sensitive internal notes are included in draft content.
This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-284 Improper Access Control, as it involves a failure to restrict access to resources based on the identity of the requesting entity. Additionally, it maps to ATT&CK technique T1005 Data from Local System Retrieval, where an adversary collects data directly from local system components without detection due to insufficient monitoring or control mechanisms. The exploitation does not require complex payloads but rather simple HTTP requests with specific parameters, making it highly accessible for automated scanning tools and low-effort attacks.
To mitigate this risk, administrators must upgrade the GeoDirectory plugin to version 2.8.194 or later immediately upon availability. This update includes patches that enforce proper authorization checks on all AJAX handlers, ensuring that only authenticated users with appropriate roles can access non-public listings. In addition to updating software, site operators should implement Web Application Firewall rules to monitor and restrict excessive requests to listing-related endpoints, which may help mitigate brute-force enumeration attempts in the interim period before patching is complete. Regular security audits of custom code and third-party plugins are also recommended to identify similar access control weaknesses across the WordPress ecosystem.