CVE-2024-6366 in User Profile Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/29/2024
The User Profile Builder WordPress plugin before 3.11.8 does not have proper authorisation, allowing unauthenticated users to upload media files via the async upload functionality of WP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-6366 affects the User Profile Builder WordPress plugin version 3.11.7 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that undermines the plugin's authorization mechanisms. This issue stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate user permissions when processing asynchronous media uploads, creating an unauthorized access vector that allows any visitor to the website to upload files to the WordPress media library. The vulnerability specifically targets the async upload functionality within WordPress core, which is typically protected by authentication checks and proper authorization controls. The flaw exists because the plugin does not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to perform media uploads, effectively bypassing WordPress's standard security protocols that would normally require users to be logged in with appropriate capabilities such as upload_files or edit_posts permissions. This authorization bypass represents a significant weakness in the plugin's security architecture and aligns with CWE-863, which addresses incorrect authorization scenarios where an attacker can perform actions they should not be permitted to execute. The vulnerability exposes the WordPress installation to potential abuse through the exploitation of the media upload functionality, which can be leveraged for malicious purposes including the deployment of web shells, malware distribution, or the storage of inappropriate content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file uploads, creating multiple attack vectors that can compromise the overall security posture of the WordPress site. An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this flaw to upload various file types to the server, potentially including executable scripts or malicious binaries that could be used to establish persistent access or conduct further attacks against the compromised system. The asynchronous nature of the upload functionality means that these files can be uploaded without requiring the user to navigate through typical WordPress admin interfaces, making detection more difficult and the attack less obvious to administrators. This vulnerability can be exploited through direct API calls or by crafting malicious requests that target the specific upload endpoints exposed by the plugin, allowing attackers to bypass traditional security measures such as CAPTCHA systems or rate limiting mechanisms that might otherwise prevent automated exploitation attempts. The attack surface is particularly concerning because WordPress media libraries are often used to store files that are accessible via public URLs, meaning that uploaded malicious files could immediately be accessed by other users or automated scanners. This type of vulnerability is categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1195.001, which describes the use of web shells or malicious files for persistence and command execution within compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-6366 require immediate action to address the authorization bypass in the User Profile Builder plugin. The most effective solution is to upgrade to version 3.11.8 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly validate user permissions before allowing media uploads. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as restricting access to the WordPress media library through .htaccess rules or custom server configurations, ensuring that only authorized users can access media files. Network-level protections including firewall rules that restrict access to the specific upload endpoints can help prevent exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual file upload patterns or attempts to access the plugin's upload functionality from unexpected sources. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws in other plugins or themes that might be vulnerable to the same class of attack. The remediation process should also include reviewing user permissions and capabilities within WordPress to ensure that only legitimate users possess the ability to upload media files, as well as implementing proper logging and alerting mechanisms that can detect unauthorized access attempts to media upload functionality. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls or security plugins that can provide additional layers of protection against such exploitation attempts and help prevent unauthorized file uploads from reaching the server.