CVE-2016-20100

Deferred Deferred - Pending Action

Path Traversal in Memphis Documents Library WordPress Plugin

Publication date: 2026-10-20

Last updated on: 2026-10-23

Assigner: VulnCheck

Description

Memphis Documents Library plugin for WordPress before 3.1.6 contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files via the mdocs-img-preview parameter. Attackers can send GET requests with traversal sequences to mdocs_img_preview() in mdocs-downloads.php to download wp-config.php containing database credentials. Exploitation evidence was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2023-10-22.

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Meta Information

Published

2026-10-20

Last Modified

2026-10-23

Generated

2026-11-10

AI Q&A

2026-10-21

EPSS Evaluated

2026-11-08

NVD

CVE-2016-20100

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
Ian Howatson	Memphis Documents Library	2.2.1

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-22	The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a path traversal flaw in the Memphis Documents Library WordPress plugin before version 3.1.6. It allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files on the server by exploiting the mdocs-img-preview parameter. Attackers can send specially crafted GET requests with directory traversal sequences to the mdocs_img_preview() function in mdocs-downloads.php. This can lead to the exposure of sensitive files like wp-config.php, which contains database credentials.

Detection Guidance

Check for GET requests containing the mdocs-img-preview parameter with path traversal sequences like ../ in URLs. Inspect server logs for suspicious requests to mdocs-downloads.php targeting sensitive files such as wp-config.php.

Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability can allow attackers to access sensitive files on your server, including configuration files with database credentials. This could lead to unauthorized data access, database breaches, or further compromise of your WordPress site. Attackers might also gain access to other confidential information stored on the server.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability can lead to data breaches, which may violate compliance requirements under GDPR, HIPAA, or other regulations. Exposure of sensitive data like database credentials or user information could result in legal penalties, fines, or reputational damage due to non-compliance with data protection standards.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the Memphis Documents Library plugin to version 3.1.6 or later immediately. If an update is not available, disable or remove the plugin until a patch is released. Review server access logs for signs of exploitation.

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