Description
The GeoDirectory WordPress plugin before 2.8.168 does not restrict a user-search handler to users allowed to list users, allowing any authenticated user with Contributor-level access or higher to retrieve the email addresses of all registered users, including administrators.
Published: 2026-08-05
Score: 6.5 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

The GeoDirectory WordPress plugin is missing an authorization check in its user-search handler geodir_json_search_users. This allows any authenticated user who has Contributor or higher privileges to force the plugin to return the email addresses of all registered users, including site administrators. The primary consequence is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive contact information that can be used for further attacks or social engineering. The vulnerability is an example of a failure to enforce proper access control and results in information exposure.

Affected Systems

All installations of the GeoDirectory WordPress plugin with a version earlier than 2.8.168 are affected. The vulnerability applies to sites running this plugin and is not limited to a specific WordPress version. Based on the description, it is inferred that any user with Contributor, Author, Editor, or Administrator WordPress roles can exploit the flaw.

Risk and Exploitability

Because the vulnerability requires only authentication and grants the unprivileged Contributor role, a wide range of users can exploit it. The EPSS score is < 1% and the CVSS score of 6.5 denotes medium severity. The flaw is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Nevertheless, the potential to expose administrator emails warrants prompt remediation.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 5, 2026 at 19:47 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Update GeoDirectory to version 2.8.168 or later to restore proper permission checks
  • If an update cannot be applied immediately, restrict the Contributor role or remove contributors who do not need access to search features
  • Audit the site and monitor for unauthorized access patterns and email exposure as a precautionary measure

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 5, 2026 at 19:47 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Wordpress
Wordpress wordpress
Wpgeodirectory
Wpgeodirectory geodirectory
Vendors & Products Wordpress
Wordpress wordpress
Wpgeodirectory
Wpgeodirectory geodirectory

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-693

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 05 Aug 2026 08:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-200
CWE-693

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The GeoDirectory WordPress plugin before 2.8.168 does not restrict a user-search handler to users allowed to list users, allowing any authenticated user with Contributor-level access or higher to retrieve the email addresses of all registered users, including administrators.
Title GeoDirectory < 2.8.168 - Contributor+ User Email Disclosure via geodir_json_search_users
References

Subscriptions

Wordpress Wordpress
Wpgeodirectory Geodirectory
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: WPScan

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-05T15:11:45.307Z

Reserved: 2026-07-24T08:22:34.059Z

Link: CVE-2026-16968

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-05T15:11:39.564Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-08-05T07:16:36.877

Modified: 2026-08-26T16:31:16.753

Link: CVE-2026-16968

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-07T09:30:11Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-200

    Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor