CVE-2026-15016 in Paid Memberships Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
The Paid Memberships Pro – Content Restriction, User Registration, & Paid Subscriptions plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Readonly User Field via [pmpro_member_profile_edit] Shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 3.8.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
The vulnerability in the Paid Memberships Pro plugin represents a critical stored cross-site scripting weakness that affects WordPress environments utilizing the [pmpro_member_profile_edit] shortcode functionality. This security flaw exists within versions 3.8.1 and earlier, creating a persistent threat vector that allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level privileges or higher to execute malicious scripts across affected systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms combined with insufficient output escaping procedures that fail to properly validate and sanitize user-provided data before it is processed and rendered within the plugin's profile editing interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes user input through the readonly user field parameter within the [pmpro_member_profile_edit] shortcode. Attackers can exploit this by injecting malicious javascript code into the user profile fields, which then gets stored in the database and subsequently executed whenever other users access pages containing the compromised profile information. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection occurs, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for WordPress administrators and website operators who rely on the plugin for membership management and user authentication. The attack surface extends beyond individual compromised accounts to potentially affect entire user bases, especially in environments where members frequently access profile information or where administrators regularly review member details. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability means that attackers with minimal access levels can leverage this weakness to conduct further reconnaissance or establish more persistent threats within the affected WordPress environment.
Security professionals should approach this vulnerability through the lens of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting conditions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving web application exploitation and privilege escalation through user input manipulation. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including plugin updates to versions 3.8.2 or later, where the sanitization and escaping mechanisms have been properly enhanced. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious profile modifications and conduct thorough security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their WordPress infrastructure.
The remediation process requires not only patching the vulnerable plugin but also establishing proper input validation procedures across all user-facing administrative interfaces. Organizations should implement robust content security policies and regularly audit their WordPress installations for outdated or vulnerable plugins that may present similar attack vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security measures that address both known and emerging threats in web application environments.