CVE-2026-65564 in MapPress Maps Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2026
Unauthenticated Sensitive Data Exposure in MapPress Maps for WordPress <= 2.97.6 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as unauthenticated sensitive data exposure in MapPress Maps for WordPress affects versions up to and including 2.97.6, representing a critical security weakness that allows unauthorized access to protected information through web application misconfigurations. This flaw enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and directly access sensitive map data, user location information, and potentially other confidential datasets stored within the plugin's framework. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls implemented within the plugin's data retrieval functions, where specific endpoints do not properly validate user authentication status before serving requested content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of API requests and data endpoints that should typically require valid WordPress user authentication or specific authorization tokens. Attackers can exploit this weakness by directly accessing internal plugin URLs that expose geospatial data, map configurations, and potentially user-related location information without providing valid credentials. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input validation and access control implementation within the WordPress plugin architecture. The flaw aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting through exploitation of weak authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially compromise user privacy and location-based services within the WordPress environment. Organizations utilizing MapPress Maps plugin may experience unauthorized access to detailed geographic information, which could be leveraged for social engineering attacks, targeted phishing campaigns, or even physical security threats depending on the nature of the exposed data. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate plugin functionality but also poses risks to broader network security posture when considering that compromised WordPress installations often serve as entry points for further lateral movement within organizational networks. Security professionals should consider this exposure as part of a larger attack surface analysis, particularly when evaluating the security implications of third-party plugins in enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to versions 2.97.7 and later where the authentication bypass has been addressed through proper access control implementation. Administrators should also implement additional network-level controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block unauthorized access attempts to known vulnerable endpoints, while conducting thorough audit reviews of all active plugins for similar authentication weaknesses. Regular security scanning of WordPress installations using tools like WPScan or similar vulnerability assessment frameworks should be implemented to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. Additionally, organizations should establish automated monitoring procedures to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against known vulnerable endpoints, ensuring comprehensive protection against both current and emerging threats targeting WordPress plugin ecosystems.