CVE-2024-27190 in Download Media Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Jean-David Daviet Download Media.This issue affects Download Media: from n/a through 1.4.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2025
The CVE-2024-27190 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Download Media plugin developed by Jean-David Daviet. This vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through 1.4.2, indicating a persistent security weakness that has remained unaddressed across multiple iterations of the software. The issue fundamentally undermines the plugin's ability to properly verify user permissions before granting access to sensitive media resources, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that rely on this component for media management and distribution.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the plugin's code structure, where authentication checks are either completely absent or improperly implemented. This allows unauthorized users to bypass normal permission restrictions and access media files that should only be available to authenticated administrators or authorized personnel. The vulnerability manifests when the plugin fails to validate whether a user possesses sufficient privileges to perform specific actions on media resources, effectively creating a backdoor that malicious actors can exploit to gain unauthorized access to protected content. Such missing authorization controls directly align with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within software systems, and represents a classic example of insufficient access control validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, content theft, and compromise of sensitive media assets. Attackers can leverage this flaw to download copyrighted materials, confidential documents, or any other media files that are protected within the WordPress environment. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites that utilize the Download Media plugin for managing proprietary content, user uploads, or restricted media resources. The consequences include potential legal implications for content owners, reputational damage to organizations, and possible compliance violations related to data protection regulations. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable attackers to gain insights into the site's media structure, potentially facilitating further attacks or exploitation of other system components.
Organizations and administrators should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by updating to the latest version of the Download Media plugin where the authorization flaw has been patched. The recommended approach includes applying the vendor's official security update as soon as it becomes available, while simultaneously reviewing existing access control policies and monitoring user activities for any suspicious behavior. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all installed plugins to identify similar authorization weaknesses that may exist within the broader WordPress ecosystem. Implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls, restricting file permissions, and enforcing strict authentication protocols can provide additional protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and demonstrates how seemingly minor authorization gaps can create substantial security risks in content management systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through compromised access points.