CVE-2023-6504 in Profile Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/11/2024
The User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the wppb_toolbox_usermeta_handler function in all versions up to, and including, 3.10.7. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to expose sensitive information within user metadata.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6504 affects the User Profile Builder plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 3.10.7. This issue represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations relying on this plugin. The vulnerability stems from an insufficient capability check within the wppb_toolbox_usermeta_handler function, which fails to properly validate user permissions before allowing access to sensitive user metadata. This flaw creates a pathway for attackers who possess contributor-level privileges or higher to bypass intended access controls and retrieve confidential information from user profiles.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user metadata operations within the WordPress admin interface. When the wppb_toolbox_usermeta_handler function processes requests for user metadata, it does not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the appropriate administrative capabilities required to access such sensitive data. This missing authorization check creates a privilege escalation vector where authenticated users with minimal permissions can exploit the function to obtain information that should only be accessible to administrators or users with elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests as an insufficient authorization control, which directly relates to CWE-285, specifically the lack of proper access control mechanisms within the application's security model.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress site administrators and their users. Attackers with contributor-level access can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive user metadata, potentially including personal information, user preferences, security settings, and other confidential data stored within user profiles. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as this metadata could contain credentials, personal identification details, or behavioral patterns that could be exploited in subsequent attacks. The vulnerability affects all users with contributor-level access or higher, which means that any attacker who can establish a foothold with these permissions can immediately exploit the weakness without requiring additional privileges or complex attack vectors.
The security implications of CVE-2023-6504 align with several ATT&CK framework techniques, particularly those related to privilege escalation and credential access. This vulnerability enables adversaries to move laterally within a system by accessing user metadata that may contain additional credentials or system access information. The flaw represents a persistent security weakness that can be exploited repeatedly until properly patched, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. Organizations using affected versions of the User Profile Builder plugin face increased risk of data breaches and potential regulatory compliance violations due to unauthorized access to user information.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by updating to the latest version of the User Profile Builder plugin where the capability check has been properly implemented. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts to user metadata and review user permissions regularly to ensure that only authorized personnel maintain contributor or higher privileges. The patch for this vulnerability should be prioritized as a critical security update, and organizations should verify that the fix properly addresses the missing capability check within the wppb_toolbox_usermeta_handler function. Additionally, implementing role-based access controls and regular security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.