CVE-2025-13642
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with Subscriber-level access or higher to execute arbitrary shortcodes via the ProfilePress plugin's form preview functionality. Attackers can potentially inject malicious shortcodes that could lead to privilege escalation, data exposure, or other unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using ProfilePress plugin versions up to 4.16.7 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- ProfilePress (Paid Membership Plugin, Ecommerce, User Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content)
⚠️ 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 execute arbitrary shortcodes leading to privilege escalation, sensitive data exposure, or complete site compromise through chained attacks.
Likely Case
Authenticated attackers with subscriber access could execute unauthorized shortcodes to modify content, access restricted data, or perform limited administrative actions.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, impact is limited to authenticated users exploiting the vulnerability within their permission scope.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is straightforward once authenticated. The vulnerability is publicly documented with code references.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.16.8 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3408055/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find ProfilePress plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download latest version from WordPress.org and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable endpoint via .htaccess
allBlock access to the vulnerable pp_preview_form endpoint
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^wp-content/plugins/wp-user-avatar/.*pp_preview_form.*$ - [F,L]
Restrict user registration
allTemporarily disable new user registrations to limit attack surface
Update WordPress settings: Settings → General → Membership → Uncheck 'Anyone can register'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls and monitor user activity logs for suspicious shortcode execution attempts
- Use web application firewall (WAF) rules to block requests containing malicious shortcode patterns to the vulnerable endpoint
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check ProfilePress plugin version in WordPress admin panel under Plugins → Installed PluginsCheck Version:
wp plugin list --name=*profilepress* --field=version (if WP-CLI installed)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 4.16.8 or higher and test form preview functionality with various input types📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- POST requests to /wp-content/plugins/wp-user-avatar/.../pp_preview_form with suspicious type parameters
- Unusual shortcode execution in WordPress debug logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing 'pp_preview_form' endpoint with crafted type parameters
- Unexpected shortcode-related API calls from authenticated users
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (uri="*pp_preview_form*" OR message="*shortcode*execution*")🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-user-avatar/trunk/src/Classes/FormPreviewHandler.php#L15
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-user-avatar/trunk/src/Classes/FormPreviewHandler.php#L71
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3408055/
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4736d139-814e-4eeb-91e8-5ee41fc35a8f?source=cve
