CVE-2021-24649: unknown wp user frontend Improper Privilege Management

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2021-24649 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in unknown wp user frontend. EPSS estimates a 0.69% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 52.2% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 21-11-2022
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 30-04-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

The WP User Frontend WordPress plugin before 3.5.29 uses a user supplied argument called urhidden in its registration form, which contains the role for the account to be created with, encrypted via wpuf_encryption(). This could allow an attacker having access to the AUTH_KEY and AUTH_SALT constant (via an arbitrary file access issue for example, or if the blog is using the default keys) to create an account with any role they want, such as admin

• CWE-269Improper Privilege ManagementThe product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.