WP-BusinessDirectory <= 4.0.1 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion via Path Traversal via '_filename' Parameter
Affected versions: *-4.0.1
Vulnerability type: CWE-73 External Control of File Name or Path
Affected software, patched versions and attribution
The WP-BusinessDirectory plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion in versions up to and including 4.0.1. This is due to insufficient path validation in the remove() method of the JBusinessDirectoryControllerUpload class. The task=upload.remove endpoint is accessible without authentication via the plugin's frontend routing system. The _filename parameter is accepted with RAW filter (no sanitization), and the helper function makePathFile() only normalizes directory separator characters without stripping path traversal sequences (../). When combined with the _path_type=2 parameter, which sets the base directory to the plugin's site folder, an attacker can supply a _filename value containing ../ sequences to traverse outside the plugin directory and call PHP's unlink() on arbitrary files — including wp-config.php, wp-config-backup.php, or other critical server files accessible to the web server process. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server.
WP-BusinessDirectory – Business directory plugin for WordPress
Affected versions: *-4.0.1
Patched versions: 4.0.2
Researcher credit: Nabil Irawan
Applicable copyright and licence notices
This record contains material that is subject to copyright
Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc.
Defiant hereby grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute this software vulnerability information. Any copy of the software vulnerability information you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you include a hyperlink to this vulnerability record and reproduce Defiant's copyright designation and this license in any such copy.
This record contains material that is subject to copyright
Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation
CVE Usage: MITRE hereby grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®). Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you reproduce MITRE's copyright designation and this license in any such copy.
- Published
- June 30, 2026
- CVSS
- 9.1