UserPro - Community and User Profile WordPress…: Incorrect Privilege Assignment
CVE-2023-6009 is a high-severity incorrect privilege assignment vulnerability in UserPro - Community and User Profile WordPress Plugin, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected UserPro - Community and User Profile WordPress Plugin versions: 5.1.4 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.92% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 61% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of UserPro - Community and User Profile WordPress Plugin you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| UserPro - Community and User Profile WordPress Plugin | UserPro - Community and User Profile WordPress Plugin | 5.1.4 and earlier | Not stated |
| Userproplugin | Userpro | 5.1.4 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | CNA (wordfence.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
The UserPro plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to privilege escalation in versions up to, and including, 5.1.4 due to insufficient restriction on the 'userpro_update_user_profile' function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with minimal permissions such as a subscriber, to modify their user role by supplying the 'wp_capabilities' parameter during a profile update.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Incorrect Privilege Assignment
A product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.
More Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerabilities (CWE-266)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/e8bed9c0-dae3-405e-a946-5f28a3c30851?source=cveThird Party Advisory
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/175871/WordPress-UserPro-5.1.x-Password-Reset-Authentication-Bypass-Escalation…Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in UserPro - Community and User Profile WordPress Plugin
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
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