# CVE-2021-47940: WordPress Download From Files 1.48 Arbitrary File Upload

> Unauthenticated attackers can upload malicious PHP files to the web root by bypassing file type restrictions in the Download From Files plugin.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 May 2026
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8h4p-vqhv-pvp3

## What is CVE-2021-47940?

CVE-2021-47940 is a critical vulnerability in download-from-files Download From Files, published on 10 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

WordPress Plugin Download From Files version 1.48 and earlier contains an arbitrary file upload vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to upload malicious files by exploiting the AJAX fileupload action. Attackers can send POST requests to the admin-ajax.php endpoint with the download_from_files_617_fileupload action, manipulating the allowExt parameter to bypass file type restrictions and upload executable files like PHP shells to the web root.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-47940?


## How do I fix CVE-2021-47940?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-47940 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-47940 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-47940 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-47940 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-47940 is a critical vulnerability in download-from-files Download From Files, published on 10 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-47940 exists.

Affected product: download-from-files Download From Files. 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-2021-47940/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47940/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-47940
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-47940
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-47940

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-47940/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.