What the vulnerability does
01Description
The CM Business Directory – Optimise and showcase local business plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Business Address Meta Fields in all versions up to, and including, 1.5.7 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. Because the malicious payload is stored in post meta rather than post_content, WordPress's unfiltered_html capability restriction does not apply, meaning contributors who lack that capability can still inject executable HTML via the address meta fields such as cmbd_address, cmbd_cityTown, cmbd_stateCounty, cmbd_postalcode, cmbd_region, and cmbd_country.
Explanation of Vulnerability in Simple Terms
02Summary
CM Business Directory versions up to 1.5.7 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows authenticated users to inject malicious scripts affecting other users. The vulnerability has a changed scope, meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component itself. Site administrators should update to a version newer than 1.5.7 to remediate this issue.
What an attacker can do
03Attacker Capabilities
Inject malicious scripts that execute in other users' browsers and affect site functionality.
Potential impact on your site
04Site Impact
Authenticated users can inject scripts affecting other visitors; potential for credential theft, malware distribution, or site defacement.
Conditions required to exploit
05Prerequisites
Attacker must have a low-privilege account (e.g., subscriber or contributor role) on the site.
Key dates
06Disclosure timeline
July 3, 2026
CVE published
