UsersWP <= 1.2.63 - Insecure Direct Object Reference to Authenticated (Editor+) Arbitrary User Avatar/Banner Reset via 'user_id' Parameter
Description
The UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Insecure Direct Object Reference in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.63 via the 'user_id' parameter due to missing validation on a user controlled key. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with editor-level access and above, to reset and permanently delete the avatar or banner image of any arbitrary user, including administrators, by clearing their avatar_thumb or banner_thumb metadata in the uwp_usermeta table.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Affected products
1Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
Root cause
"Missing authorization check on the user_id parameter in process_image_reset() allows any editor-level user to reset another user's avatar or banner images."
Attack vector
An authenticated attacker with editor-level access or above can craft a POST request to the image reset handler (`uwp_avatar_reset` or `uwp_banner_reset`) while including a `user_id` query parameter pointing to any target user, including administrators. The vulnerable code in `process_image_reset()` [ref_id=1] only checked that `user_id` was numeric and non-empty, without verifying the attacker's capability to manage that user. This Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) allows the attacker to clear the `avatar_thumb` or `banner_thumb` metadata in the `uwp_usermeta` table, permanently deleting the target's profile image or banner.
Affected code
The vulnerability resides in `includes/class-forms.php` within the `process_image_reset()` method. In versions up to 1.2.63, the method allowed any authenticated user with editor-level access to supply a `user_id` parameter without proper capability checks, enabling them to reset the avatar or banner of arbitrary users. The patch also adds a similar fix to `includes/class-profile.php` in the `crop_submit_form()` method to restrict user targeting during image cropping operations.
What the fix does
The patch [patch_id=6466788] adds a `current_user_can( 'manage_options' )` capability check to the branch that reads `$_GET['user_id']` in `process_image_reset()`, restricting the ability to target another user's images to administrators only. Additionally, the nonce verification was strengthened by binding the nonce to the specific `$user_id` (`uwp_reset_nonce_' . $type . '_' . $user_id`) instead of just the image type, preventing cross-user nonce reuse. A parallel capability check was also added to `crop_submit_form()` in `class-profile.php` to prevent similar IDOR during image cropping.
Preconditions
- authAttacker must be authenticated with at least editor-level access (edit_pages capability).
- inputAttacker must know or guess the numeric user_id of the target user.
- configThe request must be made from the WordPress admin area (is_admin() must be true).
Generated on Jun 18, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.
References
12- github.com/AyeCode/userswp/commit/0e69f967578904cc26fadd0206270d50b7420298mitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.61/includes/class-forms.phpmitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.61/includes/class-forms.phpmitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.61/includes/class-forms.phpmitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.61/includes/class-profile.phpmitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.61/includes/class-userswp.phpmitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.63/includes/class-forms.phpmitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.63/includes/class-forms.phpmitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.63/includes/class-forms.phpmitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.63/includes/class-profile.phpmitre
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.63/includes/class-userswp.phpmitre
- www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/7115756e-69fa-42fe-bde3-a36e34d4bae3mitre
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