# CVE-2021-24786: Download Monitor < 4.4.5 - Admin+ SQL Injection

> An authenticated admin can exploit SQL injection in the Download Monitor plugin to read or modify database contents.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 22 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xgj6-2p43-6fvx

## What is CVE-2021-24786?

CVE-2021-24786 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Unknown Download Monitor, published on 3 Jan 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Download Monitor WordPress plugin before 4.4.5 does not properly validate and escape the "orderby" GET parameter before using it in a SQL statement when viewing the logs, leading to an SQL Injection issue

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-24786?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wpchill Download Monitor.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-24786?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-24786 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-24786 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-24786 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Wordpress Plugin Download Monitor WordPress V 4.4.4 - SQL Injection (Authenticated) (exploitdb)
- Download Monitor < 4.4.5 - SQL Injection (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-24786.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Download Monitor

- [CVE-2023-34007](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34007/): WordPress Download Monitor Plugin <= 4.8.3 is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Upload (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2024-30501](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-30501/): WordPress Download Monitor theme <= 4.9.4 - Auth. SQL Injection vulnerability (high 7.6)
- [CVE-2022-4972](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4972/): Download Monitor <= 4.7.51 - Missing Authorization to Unauthenticated Data Export (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2021-31567](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31567/): WordPress Download Monitor plugin <= 4.4.6 - Authenticated Arbitrary File Download vulnerability (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2022-45354](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45354/): WordPress Download Monitor Plugin <= 4.7.60 is vulnerable to Sensitive Data Exposure (medium 5.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-24786 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-24786 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Unknown Download Monitor, published on 3 Jan 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-24786 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Download Monitor. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24786/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24786/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24786
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24786
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24786

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24786/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.