CVE-2025-47691 in Ultimate Member Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2025
Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') vulnerability in Ultimate Member Ultimate Member allows Code Injection. This issue affects Ultimate Member: from n/a through 2.10.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-47691 represents a critical code injection flaw within the Ultimate Member plugin for WordPress, classified under the improper control of code generation category. This weakness falls squarely within the scope of CWE-94, which specifically addresses the execution of arbitrary code or commands due to inadequate input validation and sanitization. The vulnerability exists in the Ultimate Member plugin version range from an unspecified starting point through version 2.10.3, indicating that all installations within this range are potentially susceptible to exploitation. The root cause stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input that is subsequently used in code generation processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code within the target system's context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes user input without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate data flows that eventually lead to code execution. This typically manifests when user-provided parameters are directly incorporated into dynamic code generation functions or when the plugin fails to properly escape or filter input before it is processed. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Ultimate Member is a widely used membership and user management plugin, making it a prime target for exploitation. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code injection as it can potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the compromised system. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to gain full administrative control over WordPress installations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on WordPress platforms with Ultimate Member installed. The exploitation of this flaw can result in complete system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized access to user accounts and personal information. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which involves the execution of code through command and scripting interpreters, and T1068, which covers the use of elevated privileges to execute code. The attack chain typically begins with an initial compromise through a web application vulnerability, followed by privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network. Organizations may experience service disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is successfully exploited, as the compromised systems could be used for further attacks against other network resources or to host malicious content.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of the Ultimate Member plugin to version 2.10.4 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address this code injection vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation, output encoding, and web application firewalls to protect against potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other plugins and themes. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls and regular monitoring of system logs can help detect unauthorized code execution attempts. Organizations should also maintain up-to-date backup procedures and incident response plans to ensure rapid recovery in case of successful exploitation. Given the nature of this vulnerability, it is essential that security teams monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts and consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful compromises.