Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-XXPW-3XG9-QWPH

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-08-13 06:33 – Updated: 2026-08-13 06:33

Details

The Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of protected files due to insufficient token validation in the get_advance_file_by_url() method in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.8.8 The method uses a SQL LIKE operator for token lookup without escaping wildcard characters via $wpdb->esc_like(). This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to bypass the private token requirement by supplying SQL wildcard characters (such as %) as the token value, matching any record in the plugin's file table and downloading any protected file.

Severity

5.3 (Medium)


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

Show details on source website

JSON

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{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-3835"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-285"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-08-13T06:17:38Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "The Prevent Direct Access \u2013 Protect WordPress Files plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of protected files due to insufficient token validation in the `get_advance_file_by_url()` method in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.8.8 The method uses a SQL `LIKE` operator for token lookup without escaping wildcard characters via `$wpdb-\u003eesc_like()`. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to bypass the private token requirement by supplying SQL wildcard characters (such as `%`) as the token value, matching any record in the plugin\u0027s file table and downloading any protected file.",
  "id": "GHSA-xxpw-3xg9-qwph",
  "modified": "2026-08-13T06:33:51Z",
  "published": "2026-08-13T06:33:51Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-3835"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/prevent-direct-access/tags/2.8.8.4/includes/repository.php#L221"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/prevent-direct-access/trunk/download.php#L377"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/prevent-direct-access/trunk/includes/repository.php#L221"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3637499/prevent-direct-access/trunk/includes/repository.php"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?old_path=%2Fprevent-direct-access/tags/2.8.8.8\u0026new_path=%2Fprevent-direct-access/tags/2.8.8.9"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=\u0026new=3637502%40prevent-direct-access%2Ftags%2F2.8.8.9\u0026old=3524320%40prevent-direct-access%2Ftags%2F2.8.8.8"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://wordpress.org/plugins/prevent-direct-access"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/c39d16f1-ce80-402c-8a36-f9070dc5f9c9?source=cve"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

CVE-2026-3835 (GCVE-0-2026-3835)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-08-13 05:29 – Updated: 2026-08-13 13:46

Title

Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files <= 2.8.8.8 - Unauthenticated Protected File Access

Summary

The Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of protected files due to insufficient token validation in the `get_advance_file_by_url()` method in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.8.8 The method uses a SQL `LIKE` operator for token lookup without escaping wildcard characters via `$wpdb->esc_like()`. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to bypass the private token requirement by supplying SQL wildcard characters (such as `%`) as the token value, matching any record in the plugin's file table and downloading any protected file.

Severity

5.3 (Medium)


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

SSVC

Exploitation: none Automatable: yes Technical Impact: partial

CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)

Decision recorded 2026-08-13 13:46 UTC

CWE

CWE-285 - Improper Authorization

Assigner

Wordfence mitre root

References

8 references

URL	Tags
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabil…
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/preven…
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/preven…
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/preven…
https://wordpress.org/plugins/prevent-direct-access/
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?repo…
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3637…
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?old_…

Impacted products

1 product

Vendor	Product	Version
buildwps	Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files	Affected: 0 , ≤ 2.8.8.8 (semver)

Credits

Lucas Montes (NiRoX)

Show details on NVD website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-3835",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "yes"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-08-13T13:46:11.280786Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-08-13T13:46:55.932Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Prevent Direct Access \u2013 Protect WordPress Files",
          "vendor": "buildwps",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "2.8.8.8",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "credits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "type": "finder",
          "value": "Lucas Montes (NiRoX)"
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "The Prevent Direct Access \u2013 Protect WordPress Files plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of protected files due to insufficient token validation in the `get_advance_file_by_url()` method in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.8.8 The method uses a SQL `LIKE` operator for token lookup without escaping wildcard characters via `$wpdb-\u003eesc_like()`. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to bypass the private token requirement by supplying SQL wildcard characters (such as `%`) as the token value, matching any record in the plugin\u0027s file table and downloading any protected file."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "baseScore": 5.3,
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N",
            "version": "3.1"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-285",
              "description": "CWE-285 Improper Authorization",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-13T05:29:19.702Z",
        "orgId": "b15e7b5b-3da4-40ae-a43c-f7aa60e62599",
        "shortName": "Wordfence"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/c39d16f1-ce80-402c-8a36-f9070dc5f9c9?source=cve"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/prevent-direct-access/trunk/includes/repository.php#L221"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/prevent-direct-access/tags/2.8.8.4/includes/repository.php#L221"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/prevent-direct-access/trunk/download.php#L377"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://wordpress.org/plugins/prevent-direct-access/"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=\u0026new=3637502%40prevent-direct-access%2Ftags%2F2.8.8.9\u0026old=3524320%40prevent-direct-access%2Ftags%2F2.8.8.8"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3637499/prevent-direct-access/trunk/includes/repository.php"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?old_path=%2Fprevent-direct-access/tags/2.8.8.8\u0026new_path=%2Fprevent-direct-access/tags/2.8.8.9"
        }
      ],
      "timeline": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "time": "2026-03-09T14:37:56.000Z",
          "value": "Vendor Notified"
        },
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "time": "2026-08-12T17:04:24.000Z",
          "value": "Disclosed"
        }
      ],
      "title": "Prevent Direct Access \u2013 Protect WordPress Files \u003c= 2.8.8.8 - Unauthenticated Protected File Access"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "b15e7b5b-3da4-40ae-a43c-f7aa60e62599",
    "assignerShortName": "Wordfence",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-3835",
    "datePublished": "2026-08-13T05:29:19.702Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-03-09T14:22:47.517Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-13T13:46:55.932Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.

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GHSA-XXPW-3XG9-QWPH

CVE-2026-3835 (GCVE-0-2026-3835)

Tags

Sightings

Nomenclature

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