CVE-2026-3516 Contact List <= 3.0.18 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via '_cl_map_iframe' Parameter
Authenticated attackers can inject malicious scripts via the map iframe parameter, leading to code execution or account takeover when users view affected pages.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-3516?
CVE-2026-3516 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in anssilaitila Contact List – Online Staff Directory & Address Book, published on 20 Mar 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The Contact List plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the '_cl_map_iframe' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.0.18. This is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping when handling the Google Maps iframe custom field. The saveCustomFields() function in class-contact-list-custom-fields.php uses a regex to extract <iframe> tags from user input but does not validate or sanitize the iframe's attributes, allowing event handlers like 'onload' to be included. The extracted iframe HTML is stored via update_post_meta() and later rendered on the front-end in class-cl-public-card.php without any escaping or wp_kses filtering. 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.
Weakness: CWE-79
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-3516?
How do I fix CVE-2026-3516?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-3516 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Escape output for the context it lands in and set a strict Content Security Policy. Upgrading the affected component is the real fix. More about Cross-site scripting.
Is CVE-2026-3516 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-3516 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-9mgv-v56m-vc43.