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CVE-2026-66047 – Unauthenticated RCE via Arbitrary Plugin Installation – ProfilePress (wp-user-avata

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Summary

CVE-2026-66047 is a critical unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in the ProfilePress WordPress plugin (also distributed as "wp-user-avatar"). The plugin’s ppress_connect_process AJAX handler lacks authentication and relies on a weak, brute-forceable 32-bit connect token, allowing unauthenticated attackers to install and activate arbitrary plugins and execute PHP code as the web-server user. All versions prior to 4.17.2 are affected.

Technical details

  • Root cause: missing authentication on the ppress_connect_process AJAX handler combined with use of an insufficiently random 32-bit "connect token" (CWE-306, CWE-330).
  • Trigger conditions: an attacker brute-forces the weak token and supplies a caller-controlled URL via the file request parameter to the AJAX handler.
  • Attack vector: network, no authentication or user interaction required.
  • Impact: silent installation and activation of an attacker-supplied plugin, resulting in arbitrary PHP code execution as the web-server user (full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the site).

Affected software

  • ProfilePress (wp-user-avatar) WordPress plugin, all versions before 4.17.2

Severity

  • CVSS v3.1 Base Score: 8.1 (HIGH)
  • Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • (Also rated 9.2/Critical under CVSS v4.0: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N)

Mitigation and recommended actions

  • Immediate: upgrade ProfilePress (wp-user-avatar) to version 4.17.2 or later.
  • If no patch can be applied immediately: restrict or disable access to the ppress_connect_process AJAX endpoint at the web server/WAF layer, and monitor for unexpected plugin installation/activation events on affected WordPress sites.

References

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