CVE-2024-9262
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in the User Meta WordPress plugin allows authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher to access user meta data through insecure direct object references. It can also be exploited by unauthenticated users if the 'user-meta-public-profile' shortcode is used insecurely. Sites using vulnerable versions of the User Meta plugin with forms displaying sensitive information are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- User Meta – User Profile Builder and User management plugin for WordPress
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could obtain password hashes and other sensitive user data, potentially leading to account compromise and credential stuffing attacks.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to user profile information including email addresses, names, and other metadata stored in form fields.
If Mitigated
Limited exposure of non-sensitive user data if forms don't contain sensitive information.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires Contributor-level access or higher for authenticated attacks, or insecure shortcode usage for unauthenticated attacks.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.2 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/user-meta/trunk/models/classes/generate/PublicProfile.php#L28
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins. 3. Find 'User Meta' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download version 3.2+ from WordPress repository and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove vulnerable shortcode usage
allRemove or secure any instances of 'user-meta-public-profile' shortcode from public pages
Restrict form field visibility
allReview and remove sensitive information from User Meta form fields
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the User Meta plugin entirely
- Implement strict access controls and monitor for suspicious user meta queries
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > User Meta plugin version. If version is 3.1 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name=user-meta --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is 3.2 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual GET/POST requests to user meta endpoints
- Multiple failed attempts to access user meta data
- Suspicious user meta queries from Contributor-level accounts
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing user ID parameters to plugin endpoints
- Patterns of enumeration through user meta endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("getUser" OR "user-meta" OR "public-profile") AND (status=200 OR status=403)