# CVE-2026-4609: ProfileGrid WordPress plugin missing authorization in pm_invite_user

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-4609-profilegrid-wordpress-plugin-missing-authorization-in-pm-invite  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-13. Updated: 2026-05-14  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-4609 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.1 · Published 2026-05-13

A vulnerability in the ProfileGrid WordPress plugin allows registered users to bypass security controls and join any group on the site. This includes the ability to gain unauthorized access to private or premium paid groups without paying the required fees. This could lead to loss of revenue and unauthorized access to restricted community content.

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-4609 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-4609 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-4609?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.1, published 13 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** ProfileGrid ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities Up to, and including, 5.9.8.4.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-4609?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-4609 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-4609?** Check whether anything you run is named in the advisory. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to missing authorization (CWE-862) in the pm_invite_user function. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 5.9.8.4 because the function lacks a proper capability check. An authenticated attacker with at least Subscriber-level permissions can exploit this to add themselves or other registered users to any group. This bypasses authorization logic and payment gateways intended for closed or premium groups. A patch has been released in subsequent versions.

## Affected products

- ProfileGrid ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities Up to, and including, 5.9.8.4

## Timeline

- 2026-05-13: advisory: NVD published the vulnerability details.

## References

- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/profilegrid-user-profiles-groups-and-communities/trunk/public/class-profile-magic-public.php](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/profilegrid-user-profiles-groups-and-communities/trunk/public/class-profile-magic-public.php)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/profilegrid-user-profiles-groups-and-communities/trunk/public/class-profile-magic-public.php](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/profilegrid-user-profiles-groups-and-communities/trunk/public/class-profile-magic-public.php)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3491679/](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3491679/)
- [https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/c3678b4d-0cd0-4873-8cf3-90c557931f4c?source=cve](https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/c3678b4d-0cd0-4873-8cf3-90c557931f4c?source=cve)