# CVE-2021-31567: WordPress Download Monitor plugin <= 4.4.6 - Authenticated Arbitrary File Download vulnerability

> Authenticated administrators can exploit a path traversal flaw to download arbitrary files, including sensitive configuration files, from the server.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 28 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7q5c-gm5x-mj54

## What is CVE-2021-31567?

CVE-2021-31567 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Jan 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Authenticated (admin+) Arbitrary File Download vulnerability discovered in Download Monitor WordPress plugin (versions <= 4.4.6). The plugin allows arbitrary files, including sensitive configuration files such as wp-config.php, to be downloaded via the &downloadable_file_urls[0] parameter data. It's also possible to escape from the web server home directory and download any file within the OS.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-31567?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wpchill Download Monitor.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-31567?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-31567 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-31567 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-31567 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [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-2021-24786](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24786/): Download Monitor < 4.4.5 - Admin+ SQL Injection (high 7.2)
- [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-2021-31567 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-31567 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Jan 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-31567 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2021-31567/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31567/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-31567
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31567
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-31567

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31567/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.