# CVE-2026-118635: GeoDirectory arbitrary shortcode execution

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-118635-the-the-geodirectory-wp-business-directory-plugin-and-classified  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-30. Updated: 2026-10-30  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-118635 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.5 · Published 2026-10-30

GeoDirectory is a WordPress plugin that manages business directories and classified listings. The plugin fails to validate user input before executing shortcodes, allowing unauthenticated attackers to run arbitrary shortcodes—potentially exposing sensitive data, injecting malicious content, or compromising the WordPress site.

Technologies: [AyeCode GeoDirectory](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/ayecode-geodirectory). Vendors: [AyeCode](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/ayecode).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-118635 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-118635 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-118635?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, published 30 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** AyeCode GeoDirectory up to 2.8.198.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-118635?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-118635 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-118635?** Check whether you run AyeCode GeoDirectory at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability exists in the plugin's AJAX handlers (class-geodir-ajax.php) where an action does not properly sanitize input before passing it to do_shortcode(). Unauthenticated attackers can trigger arbitrary shortcode execution via an improperly validated parameter, gaining the ability to execute any registered shortcode and its associated PHP code.

## Affected products

- AyeCode GeoDirectory up to 2.8.198

## Timeline

- 2026-10-30: disclosed

## References

- [https://github.com/AyeCode/geodirectory/archive/refs/heads/master.zip](https://github.com/AyeCode/geodirectory/archive/refs/heads/master.zip)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/geodirectory/tags/2.8.198/includes/class-geodir-ajax.php](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/geodirectory/tags/2.8.198/includes/class-geodir-ajax.php)

## Related threats

- [GeoDirectory stored cross-site scripting in post content](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-120082-the-geodirectory-wp-business-directory-plugin-and-classified)
- [GeoDirectory stored cross-site scripting in post_images parameter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116752-the-geodirectory-wp-business-directory-plugin-and-classified)
- [GeoDirectory WP Business Directory stored cross-site scripting in listing description](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119113-the-geodirectory-wp-business-directory-plugin-and-classified)
- [GeoDirectory WP Business Directory stored XSS in twitterusername](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111069-the-geodirectory-wp-business-directory-plugin-and-classified)
- [GeoDirectory local file inclusion via design_type parameter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-104899-the-geodirectory-wp-business-directory-plugin-and-classified)