# CVE-2026-16592: WordPress WP Directory Kit authorization bypass in shortcodes

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16592-wordpress-wp-directory-kit-authorization-bypass-in-shortcodes  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-15. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-16592 · Severity: low · CVSS 2.7 · Published 2026-09-15

WP Directory Kit is a WordPress plugin for creating business directory listings. The plugin fails to properly check user permissions in its shortcodes, allowing contributors (a low-level user role) to view private, password-protected, and hidden listing data belonging to other users. This can expose sensitive information like property details, contact fields, and other confidential data stored in directory listings.

Technologies: [WP Directory Kit](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/wp-directory-kit). Vendors: [WP Directory Kit](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/wp-directory-kit).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-16592 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-16592 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-16592?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 2.7, published 15 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** WP Directory Kit through 1.5.9.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-16592?** 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-2026-16592 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-16592?** Check whether you run WP Directory Kit 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 is an authorization bypass in the wdk-listing-field-value shortcode that fails to verify whether the requesting user has permission to view specific listing fields or whether those fields should be visible. A Contributor-level user can craft a shortcode with a target listing ID (which are sequentially enumerable) and arbitrary field IDs to extract non-public content, including password-protected values and fields marked invisible on the frontend. The attack requires only contributor privileges and knowledge of a listing ID; the shortcode renders the sensitive data in draft post previews. No fix is currently available as of the advisory date (2026-09-23).

## Affected products

- WP Directory Kit WP Directory Kit through 1.5.9

## Timeline

- 2026-09-12: disclosed
- 2026-09-15: advisory

## References

- [https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/aed24421-3bc6-4b36-bb61-d842d40d7c3c/](https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/aed24421-3bc6-4b36-bb61-d842d40d7c3c/)

## Related threats

- [WP Directory Kit SQL injection in order parameter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-118421-the-wp-directory-kit-wordpress-plugin-before-1-6-3-does-not)
- [WP Directory Kit SQL injection via main_field parameter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-118420-the-wp-directory-kit-wordpress-plugin-before-1-6-3-does-not)
- [WP Directory Kit unauthenticated data disclosure](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-118418-the-wp-directory-kit-wordpress-plugin-before-1-6-3-does-not)
- [WP Directory Kit SQL injection in idfield parameter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-109197-the-wp-directory-kit-plugin-for-wordpress-is-vulnerable-to)
- [WP Directory Kit SQL injection in data_fields_list parameter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16596-the-wp-directory-kit-plugin-for-wordpress-is-vulnerable-to)