WP Directory Kit Plugin up to 1.5.9 on WordPress Profile Field update_listings_user_editor display_name sql injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in WP Directory Kit Plugin up to 1.5.9. This impacts the function WdkCachedUserEditor::update_listings_user_editor of the component Profile Field. The manipulation of the argument display_name results in sql injection. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2026-96653. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in WP Directory Kit Plugin up to 1.5.9. Affected is the function WdkCachedUserEditor::update_listings_user_editor of the component Profile Field. The manipulation of the argument display_name with an unknown input leads to a sql injection vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-89. The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The WP Directory Kit plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via 'display_name' Profile Field (Second-Order) in all versions up to, and including, 1.5.9 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database. This is a second-order injection: a Subscriber stores a display_name containing a single quote via their own profile, which WordPress preserves verbatim; the payload is then triggered when WdkCachedUserEditor::update_listings_user_editor() re-reads that stored value and passes it unsanitized to the SQL sink.

The advisory is shared for download at wordfence.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-96653 since 09/23/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 10/10/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1505.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-96283). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• WordPress Plugin

Name

• WP Directory Kit Plugin

Version

• 1.5.0
• 1.5.1
• 1.5.2
• 1.5.3
• 1.5.4
• 1.5.5
• 1.5.6
• 1.5.7
• 1.5.8
• 1.5.9

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion