WP File Download <= 6.3.4 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary File Deletion via 'remoteurl' Parameter
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 6.3.5
- Affected Plugin
- WP File Download
- Affected Version
<= 6.3.4- CVSS
- 8.1High
- Weakness type
- CWE-22 · Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
- CVE
CVE-2026-14982
At a glance
CVE-2026-14982 is a high-severity Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in the WP File Download WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 6.3.4. It carries a CVSS score of 8.1 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires an authenticated account at Subscriber level or above. The issue is fixed in version 6.3.5; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed September 2026, reported by 0xd4rk5id3.
Vulnerability Overview
The WP File Download plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the delete function in all versions. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php). The two-stage exploit requires a first request to the file.save task to persist the path-traversal string into file metadata, followed by a second request to the file.delete task to trigger the unlink call — both endpoints lack capability checks and nonce enforcement.
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 interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on integrity, availability.
CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Reaching this weakness in WP File Download <= 6.3.4 takes an account at Subscriber level or above. Path traversal happens when user-controlled text is used to build a filesystem path without being constrained to an intended directory, so sequences like ../ walk the resolved path somewhere else.
Depending on the operation, it means reading files outside the intended folder — wp-config.php being the usual target — or writing to and deleting paths the web server can touch. For WP File Download the fix is 6.3.5: builds <= 6.3.4 are affected, anything from 6.3.5 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 6.3.5, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
An attacker needs Subscriber access first, so the firewall sees the attempt as traffic from a logged-in account: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: WP File Download 6.3.5 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Firewall
- Alerts
External References
Related records
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