CVE-2026-82607 in Profile Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2026
A vulnerability was found in Cozmoslabs Profile Builder Plugin up to 3.16.1 on WordPress. The impacted element is the function wppb_ajax_simple_avatar of the file /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php of the component Avatar Simple Upload AJAX Handler. Performing a manipulation results in unrestricted upload. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. The exploit has been made public and could be used. Upgrading to version 3.16.2 is sufficient to resolve this issue. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2026
The Cozmoslabs Profile Builder plugin for WordPress, specifically versions up through 3.16.1, contains a critical security flaw within its Avatar Simple Upload AJAX Handler functionality. This vulnerability resides in the wppb_ajax_simple_avatar function located within the /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php file of the component. The core technical issue is an unrestricted file upload mechanism that fails to adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied input before processing avatar uploads. By manipulating this endpoint, a remote attacker can bypass standard security controls and execute arbitrary code on the target server by uploading malicious files disguised as valid image formats. This represents a severe breach of integrity and availability principles inherent in web application security frameworks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability allows for unauthenticated or authenticated remote exploitation depending on the specific configuration of the WordPress site, though typically such AJAX handlers require at least some level of user interaction to trigger. The ability to upload unrestricted files means that attackers can deploy web shells, backdoors, or other malicious scripts directly onto the server's file system. Once executed, these uploaded artifacts provide the attacker with a persistent foothold within the compromised environment. This often leads to full system compromise, allowing for data exfiltration, defacement of the website, or using the infected server as part of a larger botnet infrastructure. The fact that an exploit has been made public significantly increases the risk landscape, enabling less sophisticated threat actors to leverage existing tools against vulnerable installations without needing to develop custom attack vectors from scratch.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-434, which describes the unrestricted upload of files with dangerous types, and is closely related to CWE-94, improper control of generation of code or commands often seen in web applications where user input dictates server-side execution. In terms of adversary tactics, this exploit maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1505.003, Server Software Component: Web Shell, which details how attackers install backdoors for persistent access. The lack of strict file type validation and insufficient checks on the content or extension of uploaded files are classic indicators of poor input validation practices that have been well-documented in secure coding guidelines over the past two decades.
To mitigate this risk immediately, administrators must upgrade the Cozmoslabs Profile Builder plugin to version 3.16.2 or later, where these restrictions on file uploads have been implemented and tested. Until an update can be applied, it is advisable to restrict access to the wp-admin directory using IP whitelisting if possible, although this may not fully mitigate risks for sites relying on public-facing AJAX endpoints. Additionally, implementing a Web Application Firewall with rules specifically targeting suspicious upload patterns or known exploit signatures related to profile builder vulnerabilities can provide an additional layer of defense. Regular monitoring of server logs for unusual file creation events in the uploads directory is also recommended to detect any potential successful exploitation attempts early.