ProfileGrid <= 5.9.7.2 - Insecure Direct Object Reference to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary User Profile and Cover Image Modification

Summary

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.

Timeline

1. Feb 5, 2026, 9:13 AM UTCCVE published
2. Feb 5, 2026, 2:44 PM UTCCISA SSVC assessment

   Exploitation: none · Automatable: yes · Technical impact: partial

3. Apr 8, 2026, 5:00 PM UTCRecord last updated

Affected versions

• metagauss ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities

  through 5.9.7.2

References 6