Unauthenticated email disclosure via unchecked AJAX action
Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Sensitive data disclosure in WP Directory Kit before 1.5.7 allows remote attackers to retrieve plugin-role usernames and email addresses. The public select_2_ajax_user AJAX action performs no authorization check and, through 1.5.5, serializes unfiltered user rows; version 1.5.6 still permits character-by-character email recovery through its search response. A reachable WordPress site with at least one user assigned a plugin role is sufficient, and the demonstrated consequence is limited to account identifiers and email addresses.
Summary
What happened
Sensitive data disclosure in WP Directory Kit before 1.5.7 allows remote attackers to retrieve plugin-role usernames and email addresses. The public select_2_ajax_user AJAX action performs no authorization check and, through 1.5.5, serializes unfiltered user rows; version 1.5.6 still permits character-by-character email recovery through its search response. A reachable WordPress site with at least one user assigned a plugin role is sufficient, and the demonstrated consequence is limited to account identifiers and email addresses.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-18231
- Published
- Aug 19, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- WP Directory Kit
- Product
- WP Directory Kit
- Classifications
- CWE-200, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <1.5.7
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- WPScan unauthenticated select_2_ajax_user proof of conceptfunctional · validated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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