CVE-2023-4469 in Profile Extra Fields Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
The Profile Extra Fields by BestWebSoft plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the prflxtrflds_export_file function in versions up to, and including, 1.2.7. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to expose potentially sensitive user data, including data entered into custom fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The Profile Extra Fields plugin for WordPress represents a widely used tool that extends user profile functionality by adding custom fields to WordPress user profiles. This plugin enables administrators to collect additional information from users beyond the standard WordPress profile fields, creating a valuable data collection mechanism for various website purposes including membership sites, community platforms, and user engagement systems. The vulnerability affects versions up to and including 1.2.7, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted across multiple releases. The plugin's functionality relies on exposing user data through various interface elements, making it a critical component in WordPress user management systems.
The technical flaw resides in the prflxtrflds_export_file function which fails to implement proper capability checks before allowing data export operations. This missing authorization validation creates a critical access control vulnerability where any unauthenticated attacker can trigger the export functionality without requiring valid user credentials or administrative privileges. The function operates without verifying whether the requesting entity possesses the necessary permissions to access or export user profile data, fundamentally undermining the security model of the WordPress platform. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284 Access Control Bypass, where insufficient checks allow unauthorized access to protected resources. The flaw demonstrates a classic privilege escalation issue where basic user access is exploited to gain access to sensitive data that should only be available to authorized administrators or users with appropriate permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating significant risks for websites utilizing the plugin. Attackers can potentially extract comprehensive user profile information including custom fields that may contain sensitive personal data such as contact information, location details, employment data, or other personally identifiable information. This unauthorized data access can lead to privacy violations, identity theft risks, and compliance issues with data protection regulations such as GDPR or CCPA. The vulnerability affects not just individual user records but can potentially expose large datasets when attackers leverage the export functionality to collect multiple user profiles simultaneously. The impact is particularly severe for websites hosting sensitive user information or those operating in regulated industries where unauthorized data access represents a serious security breach.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators and security teams. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to the latest version of the Profile Extra Fields plugin where the capability check has been implemented to prevent unauthorized access to the export functionality. Administrators should also review existing user permissions and implement principle of least privilege configurations to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts through web application firewalls and implementing proper logging of export operations to detect suspicious activities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1213 Data from Information Repositories, where attackers exploit weak access controls to extract sensitive information from data repositories. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure and reduce the attack surface for such vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar access control flaws in other plugins and themes that may present similar risks to user data confidentiality.