CVE-2024-11768

Download manager <= 3.3.03 - Improper Authorization to Unauthenticated Download of Password-Protected Files

2024-12-18 16:22

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 3.3.04
Affected Plugin: Download Manager
Affected Version: <= 3.3.03
CVSS: 5.3Medium
Weakness type: CWE-285 · Improper Authorization
CVE: CVE-2024-11768

View all Download Manager vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2024-11768 is a medium-severity Improper Authorization vulnerability in the Download Manager WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 3.3.03. It carries a CVSS score of 5.3 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 3.3.04; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed December 2024, reported by Emiliano Versini.

Vulnerability Overview

The Download Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized download of password-protected content due to improper password validation on the checkFilePassword function in all versions up to, and including, 3.3.03. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to download password-protected files.

Technical Analysis

The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user.

CWE-285: Improper Authorization

Reaching this weakness in Download Manager <= 3.3.03 takes no account at all. Improper authorization means a permission check exists but does not cover the case being exercised, so a caller who is allowed to do one thing is allowed to do a neighbouring thing as well.

A lower-privileged account performs an action reserved for a higher one, which on a multi-author or membership site means an ordinary user reaching administrative behaviour. For Download Manager the fix is 3.3.04: builds <= 3.3.03 are affected, anything from 3.3.04 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 3.3.04, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

This one needs no account at all, which puts it outside what login hardening can reach; WordSec's login security narrows the account-level paths around it, and the firewall is what inspects the request itself. None of that substitutes for the fix: Download Manager 3.3.04 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Login Security
Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-11768 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/feb915f4-66d6-4f46-949c-5354e414319b https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-11768

Related records

Same weakness class

4.3CVE-2023-1524: Download Manager Insufficient AuthorizationCVE-2023-1524

Other vulnerabilities in Download Manager

CVSS Vector

5.3

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredNone
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityLow
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityNone

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