CVE-2026-116403 in Easy Digital Downloads Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition') vulnerability in Awesomemotive Easy Digital Downloads easy-digital-downloads allows Leveraging Race Conditions.This issue affects Easy Digital Downloads: from n/a through 3.7.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a classic race condition within the Easy Digital Downloads plugin for WordPress, specifically categorized under CWE-362 as Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization. This security flaw arises when multiple threads or processes access shared data concurrently, and the final result depends on the particular order in which the access takes place. In this specific context, the vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit timing differences during file download operations or license verification processes where synchronization mechanisms are either missing or incorrectly implemented. The core technical issue lies in the failure of the application to properly lock shared resources such as database records, temporary files, or session variables before they are modified by concurrent requests. This lack of atomicity creates a window of opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate state changes that should be mutually exclusive, thereby bypassing intended security controls and potentially gaining unauthorized access or causing denial of service conditions through resource exhaustion.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this race condition can vary significantly depending on how it is exploited within the broader application logic. Attackers may leverage this flaw to download digital products without proper payment verification by manipulating the sequence in which purchase records are updated and files are served. Alternatively, if the vulnerability affects license validation or user role management, an attacker could escalate privileges or bypass authentication checks entirely. The severity of these impacts is compounded by the fact that race conditions are often difficult to detect through standard testing methodologies because they rely on precise timing and concurrent execution environments. This makes them particularly dangerous in high-traffic e-commerce scenarios where multiple users may be interacting with download links simultaneously, increasing the likelihood of triggering the vulnerable code path successfully.
The vulnerability affects versions of Easy Digital Downloads from n/a up through version 3.7.1, indicating a long-standing issue that persisted across numerous releases due to insufficient remediation efforts in earlier iterations. This extended window of exposure highlights the importance of rigorous code review practices and automated static analysis tools capable of detecting concurrency flaws during the development lifecycle rather than relying solely on post-deployment security audits. The persistence of this flaw suggests that previous patches may have addressed surface-level symptoms without resolving the underlying architectural deficiency regarding how shared resources are managed under concurrent load conditions.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate action should be taken to upgrade Easy Digital Downloads to a version later than 3.7.1 where the synchronization issues have been resolved by the development team. Developers must ensure that all critical sections of code involving shared state modifications utilize appropriate locking mechanisms such as mutexes or database transactions with proper isolation levels like serializable read committed to prevent concurrent access anomalies. Furthermore, implementing idempotent operations for download requests can help reduce the risk associated with race conditions by ensuring that repeated attempts do not lead to inconsistent states. Security teams should also monitor server logs for unusual patterns of rapid successive requests targeting single user accounts or specific product IDs, which may indicate active exploitation attempts leveraging this timing-based flaw.
In terms of industry alignment, this vulnerability maps directly to the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation if used to gain higher access levels, or more broadly to techniques involving resource manipulation within web applications. It also aligns with CWE-362 which explicitly covers race conditions leading to unintended state changes. Organizations relying on this plugin should treat the update as a high-priority security patch due to the potential for direct financial loss through unpaid downloads and reputational damage from compromised customer data integrity. Continuous monitoring and adherence to secure coding standards that prioritize concurrency safety are essential steps in maintaining the overall security posture of WordPress-based e-commerce platforms utilizing Easy Digital Downloads.