CVE-2026-3835
Received Received - Intake

Unauthenticated File Access in Prevent Direct Access WordPress Plugin

Publication date: 2026-08-13

Last updated on: 2026-08-13

Assigner: Wordfence

Description
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.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-13
Last Modified
2026-08-13
Generated
2026-08-13
AI Q&A
2026-08-13
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-3835
EUVD
EUVD-2026-57720

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
prevent_direct_access prevent_direct_access to 2.8.8.8 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-285 The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability affects the Prevent Direct Access WordPress plugin. It allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass file protection by exploiting insufficient token validation. The plugin uses a SQL LIKE operator without escaping wildcards, enabling attackers to use % as a token to match any protected file and download it.

Detection Guidance

Check WordPress sites using the Prevent Direct Access plugin version 2.8.8.8 or older. Look for unauthorized file access attempts in server logs. Test by attempting to access protected files with wildcard characters like % in tokens.

Impact Analysis

If you use this plugin, attackers could access protected files like images, documents, or videos without permission. This could lead to data leaks, unauthorized sharing of sensitive content, or bypassing intended access restrictions.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could violate GDPR or HIPAA by exposing protected files containing personal or sensitive data. Unauthorized access risks non-compliance with data protection requirements, potentially leading to legal penalties or reputational damage.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the Prevent Direct Access plugin to the latest version immediately. Remove or disable the plugin if updates are unavailable. Review server logs for signs of exploitation and restrict file access permissions.

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