dontdream BP Profile Search Plugin up to 5.9 on WordPress Directory AJAX bps_directory_ajax bps_directory path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in dontdream BP Profile Search Plugin up to 5.9. It has been rated as critical. This vulnerability affects the function bps_directory_ajax of the component Directory AJAX Handler. Performing a manipulation of the argument bps_directory results in path traversal. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-104995. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in dontdream BP Profile Search Plugin up to 5.9. This affects the function bps_directory_ajax of the component Directory AJAX Handler. The manipulation of the argument bps_directory with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The BP Profile Search plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion in versions up to, and including, 5.9 via the 'ajax_template' value parsed from the client-controlled 'bps_directory' cookie during BuddyPress AJAX directory requests. The bps_directory_ajax() filter (hooked onto bp_legacy_object_template_path and bp_nouveau_object_template_path) reads the cookie, applies only a referer-derived 'page' comparison in bps_get_directory_data() (where bps_current_page() uses HTTP_REFERER during AJAX and is therefore also attacker-controlled), and then suffixes the attacker-controlled template value with '.php' and passes it to bp_locate_template() with no basename restriction, no whitelist, and no path-traversal check. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to include arbitrary PHP files on the server, which can lead to remote code execution when PHP files can be uploaded or when images such as the default wordpress:php8.

It is possible to read the advisory at wordfence.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-104995 since 10/02/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/14/2026). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1006 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

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

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Productinfo

Type

• WordPress Plugin

Vendor

• dontdream

Name

• BP Profile Search Plugin

Version

• 5.0
• 5.1
• 5.2
• 5.3
• 5.4
• 5.5
• 5.6
• 5.7
• 5.8
• 5.9

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

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