BuddyForms: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2026-107622 is a critical-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in BuddyForms from ThemeKraft, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected BuddyForms versions: 2.10.5 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 0.74% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 55% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of BuddyForms you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Themekraft | BuddyForms | 2.10.5 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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- 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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (wordfence.com).
Official description
The BuddyForms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 2.10.5 via a form-type confusion attack through the `bf_post_type` parameter. This is due to the public frontend submission handler `buddyforms_form_response_no_ajax()` authorizing logged-out submissions based solely on the target form's `public_submit` flag while independently trusting the attacker-supplied `$_POST['bf_post_type']` to determine the post type of the newly created object — a cross-check introduced in 2.10.2 applies only to existing posts (`post_id != 0`) and is completely bypassed for new-object creation — combined with the `save_post` listener `buddyforms_edit_form_save_meta_box_data()` lacking both a `current_user_can()` capability check and a form-builder nonce, causing it to unconditionally persist attacker-supplied `$_POST['buddyforms_options']` for any newly inserted `buddyforms` CPT post. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to insert a rogue BuddyForms form configuration with an attacker-controlled `new_user_role` value into the live global form registry, then submit a registration through that form to create a new WordPress account with administrator-level privileges and achieve full site takeover. Exploitation requires the WordPress site to have "Anyone can register" enabled and at least one public BuddyForms form attached to a page, both of which are standard BuddyForms deployment configurations.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an 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.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/admin/register-post-types.php#L216
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/form/form-control.php#L258
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/form/form-control.php#L642
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/form/form.php#L476
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/wp-insert-user.php#L241
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/wp-insert-user.php#L702
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3780268/buddyforms/trunk/includes/admin/register-post-types.php
- wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/2e83e654-f8a6-44a6-a687-92606331309e?source=cve
Other vulnerabilities in BuddyForms
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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