EUVD-2025-18093
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Lifecycle Timeline
4Description
The CubeWP - All-in-One Dynamic Content Framework plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.1.23. This is due to the plugin allowing a user to update arbitrary user meta through the update_user_meta() function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to elevate their privileges to that of an administrator.
Analysis
CubeWP - All-in-One Dynamic Content Framework plugin for WordPress versions up to 1.1.23 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access to elevate their privileges to administrator through arbitrary user meta manipulation. The vulnerability exploits improper access controls on the update_user_meta() function, enabling account takeover and full site compromise. No active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed at this time, but the low attack complexity and high impact make this a critical remediation priority.
Technical Context
The vulnerability exists in the CubeWP WordPress plugin (CPE: wp:cubewp) and stems from CWE-269 (Improper Access Control) in the handling of user metadata updates. The plugin fails to properly validate and restrict which user meta fields can be modified and who can modify them. Specifically, the update_user_meta() function, which is a legitimate WordPress API for modifying user profile metadata, is exposed through the plugin's interface without adequate authorization checks. An authenticated user can craft requests to modify sensitive meta fields (such as wp_capabilities or wp_user_level) that determine WordPress role and capability assignments. This allows direct escalation from Subscriber to Administrator role without triggering standard WordPress capability validation. The root cause is inadequate privilege context checking before processing user metadata modifications—the plugin assumes all authenticated users have consistent permission levels for all meta operations.
Affected Products
CubeWP – All-in-One Dynamic Content Framework (1.0.0 through 1.1.23 (inclusive))
Remediation
Upgrade CubeWP plugin to version 1.1.24 or later when available; priority: Critical; timeline: Immediate Immediate Mitigation: Disable user registration on WordPress sites running CubeWP <= 1.1.23 to eliminate the primary attack vector (Subscriber role creation); priority: High; timeline: Immediate Access Control: Restrict plugin access to trusted administrators only; disable plugin if not actively in use; priority: High; timeline: Immediate Monitoring: Audit WordPress user meta tables (wp_usermeta) for unexpected capability changes; monitor error logs for update_user_meta() calls from untrusted users; priority: Medium; timeline: Immediate Contingency: Maintain current WordPress admin user list and compare against database records; prepare for potential account takeover incidents; priority: Medium; timeline: Immediate
Priority Score
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External POC / Exploit Code
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