CVE-2024-3606 in ProfileGrid Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
The ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Memberships, Groups and Communities plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized deletion of data due to a missing capability check on the pm_upload_cover_image function in all versions up to, and including, 5.8.3. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber access or higher, to delete attachments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2025
The ProfileGrid plugin for WordPress represents a widely used solution for creating user profiles, membership systems, and community platforms within wordpress environments. This particular vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 5.8.3, making it a significant concern for wordpress administrators who rely on this plugin for user management and community features. The vulnerability stems from a critical design flaw in the plugin's permission handling mechanisms, specifically within the pm_upload_cover_image function that governs cover image upload and deletion operations.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing capability check within the pm_upload_cover_image function, which should have enforced proper authorization controls before allowing any data modification operations. This oversight allows authenticated users with subscriber level access or higher to exploit the functionality and delete attachments from the wordpress media library. The vulnerability operates under the principle of insufficient authorization checks, which is categorized under CWE-285 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. This weakness specifically addresses scenarios where applications fail to verify that the user has the necessary permissions to perform a requested operation, creating a pathway for privilege escalation through unauthorized data manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it creates a persistent security risk for wordpress sites utilizing the ProfileGrid plugin. Attackers with subscriber accounts or higher can systematically remove cover images, profile pictures, and other uploaded media content, potentially disrupting user experience and community engagement. This capability can be leveraged for various malicious purposes including data destruction, user harassment, or information warfare within community platforms. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1485 which involves data destruction and data manipulation through unauthorized access to system resources.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version where this vulnerability has been patched, implementing additional access controls through custom code modifications, or temporarily disabling the affected functionality until a proper update can be deployed. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual deletion patterns in the media library, and regular security audits should verify that all plugin components properly enforce capability checks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and authorization enforcement in web applications, particularly in community-driven platforms where user-generated content management is a core feature. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of such vulnerabilities across their wordpress installations.