WP File Download permits Subscriber-level arbitrary file deletion
WP File Download through 6.3.4 exposes file.save and file.delete without capability or nonce enforcement. A Subscriber or higher can first persist a path-traversal value in file metadata through file.save, then invoke file.delete so the delete function passes that value to unlink(), deleting an arbitrary server file. Deleting a critical file such as wp-config.php can lead to site compromise or remote code execution.
- Component
- WP File Download
- Plugin slug
wp-file-download- Affected
- <= 6.3.4
- Safe version
- See mitigation notes
- Published
- Sep 02, 2026
This CVE was published Sep 02, 2026 and is one of 3 known issues for this plugin.
Update, patch or deactivate.
Update to a confirmed release newer than 6.3.4 when available. Until then, disable the affected file-management endpoints or remove the plugin when warranted, verify critical server files, and audit low-privilege account activity.
No confirmed safe version is listed. Consider a vendor-supported patch or temporarily restricting the affected functionality while you assess the risk.
Deactivate only when warranted by your risk profile, or when advised by your hosting provider in the limited circumstances where the vulnerability cannot otherwise be mitigated. If you’re unsure which action is appropriate, contact Fused or your hosting provider for guidance.
Technical description
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.
CVE / CNA vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H