CVE-2026-16263 in WP Maps Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2026
The WP Maps WordPress plugin before 4.9.7 does not perform a capability check in one of its AJAX actions and does not properly validate a user-controlled path before using it in a file inclusion, allowing users with a Subscriber account to include and execute arbitrary existing local PHP files on the server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2026
The WP Maps WordPress plugin vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that demonstrates poor access control and input validation practices within a widely used content management system component. This issue affects versions prior to 4.9.7 and exposes a dangerous privilege escalation vector that allows low-privilege users to execute arbitrary PHP code on the affected server. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper capability checks in its AJAX handling mechanism, specifically in an action designed for map-related functionality. When a user with a Subscriber role triggers this particular AJAX endpoint, the system does not verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to perform the operation, creating an unauthorized access pathway.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a path traversal and file inclusion flaw that occurs when user-controllable input is processed without adequate sanitization or validation. Attackers can manipulate the parameters sent to the vulnerable AJAX endpoint to specify arbitrary local file paths within the WordPress installation directory structure. This allows them to include and execute existing PHP files on the server, effectively bypassing normal access controls and potentially gaining full control over the compromised system. The flaw operates through a classic path traversal attack pattern where malicious input is directly incorporated into file operations without proper validation or filtering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it provides attackers with extensive opportunities for further compromise within the WordPress environment. A successful exploitation could enable attackers to read sensitive files such as configuration databases, user credentials stored in wp-config.php, or other critical system files that contain authentication tokens and encryption keys. Additionally, attackers can leverage this vulnerability to upload and execute malicious PHP payloads that establish persistent backdoors, modify existing website content, or even use the compromised server for further attacks against other systems within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 4.9.7 or later, which contain proper capability checks and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions such as firewall rules that limit access to AJAX endpoints to trusted IP addresses only, though this approach may impact legitimate user functionality. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual patterns in AJAX request traffic, particularly those involving file inclusion parameters or attempts to access system directories. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Path Traversal) and CWE-79 (Cross-Site Scripting) categories under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, while also mapping to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Unix Shell) and T1078.004 (Valid Accounts) within the MITRE ATT&CK framework for adversary behavior modeling.
Implementation of proper input validation and capability checks represents the fundamental security principle that should be applied across all web applications, particularly those handling user-provided data through AJAX interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates how a single missing access control check can create a complete compromise pathway for attackers with minimal technical expertise. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of all installed plugins and themes to identify similar weaknesses in other components, as this type of flaw commonly exists in poorly secured WordPress extensions that do not follow secure coding practices. Regular security audits and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to prevent such issues from remaining undetected in production environments, ensuring that all user input is properly validated before being processed by any server-side functions that interact with the file system or execute dynamic code.