The BuddyForms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to…

Why it is Amber

• CVSS 9.8 critical
• Remotely exploitable without logging in

References

• https://github.com/Themekraft/buddyforms/pull/779/files
• https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/admin/register-post-types.php#L216
• https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/form/form-control.php#L258
• https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/form/form-control.php#L642
• https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/form/form.php#L476
• https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/wp-insert-user.php#L241
• https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddyforms/tags/2.10.2/includes/wp-insert-user.php#L702
• https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3780268/buddyforms/trunk/includes/admin/register-post-types.php
• https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/2e83e654-f8a6-44a6-a687-92606331309e?source=cve

Original description

The BuddyForms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 2.10.5 via a form-type confusion attack through the `bf_post_type` parameter. This is due to the public frontend submission handler `buddyforms_form_response_no_ajax()` authorizing logged-out submissions based solely on the target form's `public_submit` flag while independently trusting the attacker-supplied `$_POST['bf_post_type']` to determine the post type of the newly created object — a cross-check introduced in 2.10.2 applies only to existing posts (`post_id != 0`) and is completely bypassed for new-object creation — combined with the `save_post` listener `buddyforms_edit_form_save_meta_box_data()` lacking both a `current_user_can()` capability check and a form-builder nonce, causing it to unconditionally persist attacker-supplied `$_POST['buddyforms_options']` for any newly inserted `buddyforms` CPT post. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to insert a rogue BuddyForms form configuration with an attacker-controlled `new_user_role` value into the live global form registry, then submit a registration through that form to create a new WordPress account with administrator-level privileges and achieve full site takeover. Exploitation requires the WordPress site to have "Anyone can register" enabled and at least one public BuddyForms form attached to a page, both of which are standard BuddyForms deployment configurations.