CVE-2026-1271: CWE-639 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key in metagauss ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities
The ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Insecure Direct Object Reference in all versions up to, and including, 5.9.7.2 via the 'pm_upload_image' and 'pm_upload_cover_image' AJAX actions. This is due to the update_user_meta() function being called outside of the user authorization check in public/partials/crop.php and public/partials/coverimg_crop.php. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to change any user's profile picture or cover image, including administrators.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The ProfileGrid WordPress plugin suffers from an Insecure Direct Object Reference vulnerability (CWE-639) in the 'pm_upload_image' and 'pm_upload_cover_image' AJAX actions. The update_user_meta() function is invoked without verifying that the requesting user is authorized to modify the targeted user's profile images. This flaw enables any authenticated user, including those with minimal privileges (Subscriber-level), to alter profile or cover images of other users, including administrators. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, no confidentiality impact, limited integrity impact, and no availability impact. No patch or official fix is currently documented.
Potential Impact
An attacker with authenticated access at Subscriber level or above can modify profile or cover images of any user, including administrators. This could be used to impersonate users visually or cause confusion but does not impact confidentiality or availability. The integrity impact is limited to profile image data.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until a fix is available, administrators should consider restricting plugin usage or user roles that can access these AJAX actions. Monitoring for unauthorized profile image changes may help detect exploitation attempts.
CVE-2026-1271: CWE-639 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key in metagauss ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities
Description
The ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Insecure Direct Object Reference in all versions up to, and including, 5.9.7.2 via the 'pm_upload_image' and 'pm_upload_cover_image' AJAX actions. This is due to the update_user_meta() function being called outside of the user authorization check in public/partials/crop.php and public/partials/coverimg_crop.php. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to change any user's profile picture or cover image, including administrators.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The ProfileGrid WordPress plugin suffers from an Insecure Direct Object Reference vulnerability (CWE-639) in the 'pm_upload_image' and 'pm_upload_cover_image' AJAX actions. The update_user_meta() function is invoked without verifying that the requesting user is authorized to modify the targeted user's profile images. This flaw enables any authenticated user, including those with minimal privileges (Subscriber-level), to alter profile or cover images of other users, including administrators. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, no confidentiality impact, limited integrity impact, and no availability impact. No patch or official fix is currently documented.
Potential Impact
An attacker with authenticated access at Subscriber level or above can modify profile or cover images of any user, including administrators. This could be used to impersonate users visually or cause confusion but does not impact confidentiality or availability. The integrity impact is limited to profile image data.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until a fix is available, administrators should consider restricting plugin usage or user roles that can access these AJAX actions. Monitoring for unauthorized profile image changes may help detect exploitation attempts.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- Wordfence
- Date Reserved
- 2026-01-20T21:46:58.650Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 69846323f9fa50a62f145d30
Added to database: 2/5/2026, 9:30:11 AM
Last enriched: 4/9/2026, 6:27:48 PM
Last updated: 5/7/2026, 12:56:57 AM
Views: 144
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