---
title: "CVE-2026-120518: BuddyPress XProfile Image Field - Arbitrary File Deletion"
description: "BuddyPress XProfile Image Field plugin for WordPress <= 3.1.0 contains an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability caused by unsafe unlink() calls on visitor-supplied signup metadata, letting unauthenticated attackers delete arbitrary files, exploit requires open registration and image-type profile field on signup form."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-120518/
---

# CVE-2026-120518 BuddyPress XProfile Image Field - Arbitrary File Deletion

BuddyPress XProfile Image Field plugin for WordPress <= 3.1.0 contains an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability caused by unsafe unlink() calls on visitor-supplied signup metadata, letting unauthenticated attackers delete arbitrary files, exploit requires open registration and image-type profile field on signup form.

CVSS base score 9.1 /10

Critical

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-120518)

## Details

Type

Arbitrary File Deletion

Impact

File System Write, Remote Code Execution

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

Published

3 November 2026

Updated

3 November 2026

Weakness

[CWE-22](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/22.html)

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest version of the BuddyPress XProfile Image Field plugin.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-120518](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-120518)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L494](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L494)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L507](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L507)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L526](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L526)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L587](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L587)
- [https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/1a53bcf5-61ed-427c-9efd-29c9309d2426?source=cve](https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/1a53bcf5-61ed-427c-9efd-29c9309d2426?source=cve)
- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-48158](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-48158)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L488](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/buddypress-xprofile-image-field/tags/3.1.0/bp-xprofile-image-field.php#L488)

[← All CVEs](https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/)

## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

Panop answers these inside your environment, for this CVE and every other finding.

[Book a demo](https://panop.io/demo)