CVE-2023-6785 in Download Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2024
The Download Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized file download of files added via the plugin in all versions up to, and including, 3.2.84. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to download files added with the plugin (even when privately published).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
The CVE-2023-6785 vulnerability affects the Download Manager plugin for WordPress, a widely used tool for managing file downloads on websites. This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security assumptions of private file handling within WordPress environments. The issue impacts all versions of the plugin up to and including version 3.2.84, making it a persistent threat across a significant portion of plugin installations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication checks within the plugin's file download mechanism, allowing attackers to bypass normal access restrictions that should prevent unauthorized access to private content.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper user authentication verification when processing file download requests through the plugin's API endpoints. When users upload files via the Download Manager plugin, they can set these files to private status, which should restrict access to authorized users only. However, the vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to construct malicious requests that bypass these access controls, enabling them to download files that were intended to be restricted. This flaw operates at the application level and specifically targets the plugin's file serving functionality, making it particularly dangerous for websites that rely on the plugin for managing sensitive documents, proprietary files, or copyrighted content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, creating significant risks for websites that host confidential information. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to systematically download all files that have been added through the plugin, regardless of their private status or access restrictions. This could result in data breaches, intellectual property theft, and compliance violations for organizations that store sensitive documents on their WordPress sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects unauthenticated access, meaning attackers do not need valid credentials or user accounts to exploit the flaw. This makes the vulnerability easily exploitable and potentially scalable, as attackers can create automated scripts to harvest files from multiple vulnerable sites. The impact is amplified in environments where the plugin is used extensively for document management, membership sites, or corporate file repositories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-6785 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authentication bypass issue, as this represents the most direct solution to the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as restricting direct access to plugin files through web server configurations, implementing rate limiting on download endpoints, and monitoring for unusual download patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious requests targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoints. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all WordPress installations to identify other potentially vulnerable plugins and ensure that proper access controls are in place for file management systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to protected resources. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving unauthorized access and data extraction, representing a significant threat vector for adversaries seeking to obtain sensitive information from web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in their WordPress environments.