Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
ProfilePress for WordPress versions 3.0.0 through 3.1.3 allowed arbitrary file uploads through its image uploader during registration or profile updates. On exposed sites, this could let an unauthenticated attacker compromise the website and its data.
Executive priority
Treat as urgent for any internet-facing WordPress property using the affected plugin. The flaw has critical impact and requires no authentication or user interaction according to CVSS.
Technical view
CVE-2021-34623 is CWE-434 in ProfilePress ImageUploader.php. The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.8, with network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction required. The sources identify affected versions 3.0.0 through 3.1.3.
Likely exposure
WordPress sites running ProfilePress 3.0.0 through 3.1.3 are the known exposure. Risk is higher where public registration or profile update workflows are enabled.
Exploitation context
The CVE data does not mark this as CISA KEV, and the supplied sources do not prove active exploitation. Wordfence described the issue as easily exploitable and patched, but no exploitation telemetry is included in the bundle.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Wordfence reference. Do not assume affected forks, patched version numbers, or active exploitation without additional vendor or threat intelligence confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Identify all WordPress sites using ProfilePress.
- Upgrade ProfilePress beyond the affected 3.0.0 through 3.1.3 range.
- Check ProfilePress or WordPress plugin guidance for the fixed release.
- Remove or disable affected versions if they cannot be updated promptly.
- Review uploaded files and site integrity after remediation.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed ProfilePress versions on every WordPress site.
- Verify no site runs ProfilePress 3.0.0 through 3.1.3.
- Check whether public registration or profile updates are enabled.
- Review webroot and uploads directories for unexpected executable files.
- Confirm remediation through vulnerability scanning or plugin inventory evidence.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-434: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-34623 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2021/06/easily-exploitable-critical-vulnerabilities-patched-in-profilepress-plugin/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.