CVE-2026-52708 in User Frontend Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in weDevs WP User Frontend wp-user-frontend allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects WP User Frontend: from n/a through 4.3.13.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the weDevs WP User Frontend plugin, specifically affecting versions ranging from its initial release up to version 4.3.13. This vulnerability is classified as a missing authorization issue, which fundamentally represents an insecure direct object reference or broken access control mechanism where the application fails to properly verify whether the authenticated user has sufficient privileges to perform specific actions on resources they do not own or are not authorized to modify. In the context of WordPress plugins that facilitate frontend user registration and profile management, such as WP User Frontend, these functions often handle sensitive operations like editing user profiles, changing passwords, updating personal information, or managing subscription statuses. The absence of robust server-side authorization checks allows an attacker who is already authenticated on the platform to manipulate requests directed at other users' data by altering parameters in HTTP requests, thereby bypassing intended security boundaries and gaining unauthorized access to private information or administrative capabilities that should be restricted based on role-based permissions.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control, specifically falling under the sub-category of insecure direct object references where an application uses user-supplied input to access objects directly without verifying ownership. It also closely maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, as exploitation typically requires a valid login but leverages flawed logic to escalate privileges or access lateral resources. The operational impact is significant for any website relying on this plugin for user-generated content and member management. Attackers can exploit this flaw to view private profile details of other users, such as email addresses, phone numbers, or internal notes added by administrators. Furthermore, depending on the specific implementation gaps within the affected versions, it may be possible to modify another user's account settings, reset passwords without proper verification workflows, or even escalate privileges if certain administrative functions are improperly exposed through frontend endpoints lacking adequate role checks. This compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user data stored in the WordPress database, potentially leading to privacy violations under regulations like GDPR or CCPA due to unauthorized exposure of personally identifiable information.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate remediation by updating the plugin to a version later than 4.3.13 where these authorization checks have been corrected by the developers. Until an update is applied, administrators should consider disabling the frontend editing features for roles that do not strictly require them or implementing additional server-side validation rules via custom code snippets if available in the current configuration options. It is also advisable to audit user activity logs for any suspicious patterns indicating mass enumeration of user IDs or attempts to modify profiles belonging to other users. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on access control mechanisms are recommended to ensure that future updates do not reintroduce similar flaws, maintaining a robust defense-in-depth posture against broken access control attacks which remain one of the most prevalent threats in web application security landscapes today.