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CVE-2023-1524 - Before 3 Plugin

CVE-2023-1524

The Download Manager WordPress plugin before 3.2.71 does not adequately validate passwords for password-protected files. Upon validation, a master key is generated and exposed to the user, which may be used to download any password-protected file on the server, allowing a user to download any file with the knowledge of any one file's password.

CVE-2023-1524

MEDIUM CVSS 6.5 Published 2023-05-30 Updated 2025-03-21
AI Risk Elevated (56/100) Active Exploit: No strong signal Published Exploit: No public exploit references Priority: P3 Priority
Severity Band MEDIUM
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Affected Components 2
Reference Links 1
AI Risk Engine Elevated (56/100)
Exploitability Medium
Active Exploitation No strong signal
Published Exploit Status No public exploit references

Threat Timeline

  1. 2023-05-30 CVE published and first recorded in the threat feed.
  2. 2025-03-21 Record updated with latest vulnerability metadata.
  3. 2026-04-11 AI technical context refreshed for mitigation and impact guidance.
  4. Now Monitoring for follow-up changes, linked references, and new related CVEs.

AI Context

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AI Updated 5 days ago

AI enriched 5 days ago (2026-04-11 04:15 UTC)

Technical Summary

The Download Manager WordPress plugin before 3.2.71 does not adequately validate passwords for password-protected files. Upon validation, a master key is generated and exposed to the user, which may be used to download any password-protected file on the server, allowing a user to download any file with the knowledge of any one file's password.

Potential Impact

Severity is MEDIUM (CVSS 6.5). Depending on deployment context, affected components may be exposed to unauthorized actions or data integrity risk.

Exploitability Assessment

Exploitability is assessed as Medium based on severity and technical exposure profile.

Primary risk drivers: severity and technical exposure profile

Mitigation Recommendations

Validate affected product versions, prioritize patching, and monitor references for vendor remediation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, apply compensating controls and limit exposure of vulnerable surfaces.

Detection & Monitoring

Track authentication anomalies, unexpected file writes, and suspicious plugin API activity around affected components.

Business Impact Lens

AI risk score 56/100 (Elevated, Medium) with priority P3 Priority. Prioritize remediation where affected components process customer data, admin sessions, or Internet-exposed workflows.

Affected Products

Before 3 PLUGIN · before-3 Affected: < 3.2.71 Fixed in: 3.2.71
Download Manager PLUGIN · download-manager Affected: < 3.2.71 Fixed in: 3.2.71
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