CVE-2013-2697 in WP-DownloadManager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the WP-DownloadManager plugin before 1.61 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that insert XSS sequences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2026
The CVE-2013-2697 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the WP-DownloadManager plugin for WordPress systems. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 1.61 and creates a significant security risk by allowing remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of legitimate users. The flaw specifically enables attackers to manipulate the plugin's functionality to insert malicious cross-site scripting sequences into the system, effectively bypassing standard authentication controls that should protect user sessions and privileges.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the plugin's insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within its download management functions. When legitimate users interact with the WordPress site, their authenticated sessions become vulnerable to manipulation by attackers who can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from the legitimate user's browser. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of file download operations where XSS payloads can be injected through the download manager interface, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to include potential data corruption and unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. Attackers can leverage this flaw to insert malicious scripts that execute within the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The XSS sequences injected through this vulnerability can be used to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized administrative actions within the WordPress environment. This creates a dangerous escalation path where a single compromised user session can be leveraged to gain broader system access.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and demonstrates how insufficient input validation and missing anti-CSRF mechanisms create exploitable attack surfaces. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers can use the XSS payloads to redirect users or establish command and control channels. The security implications extend to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) as the vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code within user browsers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2697 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.61 or later, which contain the necessary anti-CSRF token implementations and request validation controls. System administrators should also implement additional security layers including Content Security Policy headers to prevent XSS execution, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for unauthorized changes to plugin files. Network-based solutions such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection by detecting and blocking suspicious request patterns that attempt to exploit CSRF vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing strict access controls and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other plugin components or custom code implementations.