CVE-2021-44760 in WP-DownloadManager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/18/2022
Authenticated Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability discovered in WP-DownloadManager WordPress plugin (versions
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2025
The CVE-2021-44760 vulnerability represents a critical authenticated reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the WP-DownloadManager WordPress plugin ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically affects versions of the plugin prior to 3.0.22, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this popular download management tool. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data, particularly in parameters related to download management functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users with appropriate privileges interact with the plugin's administrative interfaces or frontend components that process user input. The reflected XSS vulnerability manifests when malicious scripts are injected into the application's response through parameters that are not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to users. This allows attackers who have gained access to legitimate user accounts to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised WordPress installation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly undermines the security posture of WordPress sites using WP-DownloadManager, particularly those with multiple user roles or administrator accounts. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers need only compromise a single user account with sufficient privileges to potentially affect all other users of the site. This creates a vector for privilege escalation attacks where an attacker could leverage the XSS flaw to gain elevated access to sensitive administrative functions. The vulnerability also poses risks to user data integrity and confidentiality, as malicious scripts could capture user inputs, steal cookies, or redirect users to malicious domains.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate patching of affected WP-DownloadManager installations to version 3.0.22 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output escaping measures. Additionally, implementing comprehensive monitoring of user account activities and conducting regular security audits of plugin installations can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense, though these should not replace proper patch management. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content, highlighting the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust input validation controls across all web applications.