CVE-2024-6410 is an authorization bypass vulnerability classified under CWE-639 (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting the ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability exists in the 'pm_upload_image' function, which handles profile image uploads. Due to missing validation on a user-controlled key parameter, authenticated users with Subscriber-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw to change the profile picture of any user on the site. This is an example of an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR), where the application fails to verify that the requesting user is authorized to modify the targeted resource. The vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to 5.8.9. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, requires privileges (authenticated user), and does not require user interaction. The impact is limited to integrity, as attackers can alter profile images but cannot affect confidentiality or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the flaw could be leveraged for impersonation or social engineering attacks, potentially undermining trust in user identities on affected WordPress sites. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on July 10, 2024, and no official patches or updates have been linked yet. The flaw is particularly relevant for websites relying on ProfileGrid for user management and community features.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-6410 is on the integrity of user profiles within WordPress sites using the ProfileGrid plugin. Attackers with minimal privileges (Subscriber-level) can alter profile pictures of arbitrary users, which could be exploited for impersonation, social engineering, or reputation damage. While this does not directly compromise sensitive data or site availability, it undermines user trust and could facilitate further attacks such as phishing or targeted scams by misrepresenting user identities. For organizations relying on ProfileGrid for community management, this could lead to reputational harm and potential user attrition. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation (low complexity, no user interaction) increases risk, especially on sites with many users and public-facing profiles. Although no known exploits are currently active, the widespread use of WordPress and this plugin means the vulnerability could be targeted in the future. Attackers could also combine this flaw with other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges or conduct more damaging attacks.

To mitigate CVE-2024-6410, organizations should first check for and apply any official patches or updates released by the ProfileGrid plugin developers. If no patch is available, administrators should consider temporarily disabling the plugin or restricting access to profile image upload functionality to trusted user roles only. Implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules to monitor and block suspicious requests targeting the 'pm_upload_image' function or unusual profile image changes can help reduce risk. Site administrators should audit user roles and permissions to ensure minimal privilege principles are enforced, limiting Subscriber-level users' capabilities where possible. Additionally, monitoring logs for anomalous profile picture changes and educating users about potential impersonation risks can help detect and respond to exploitation attempts. For long-term security, developers should contribute or request improved input validation and authorization checks on user-controlled keys within the plugin codebase. Regular security assessments and plugin updates remain critical to maintaining a secure environment.