# CVE-2022-4972: Download Monitor <= 4.7.51 - Missing Authorization to Unauthenticated Data Export

> Unauthenticated attackers can access sensitive user data via REST API routes due to missing capability checks in the Download Monitor plugin.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Oct 2024
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-88wj-fxpv-pc7g

## What is CVE-2022-4972?

CVE-2022-4972 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in wpchill Download Monitor, published on 16 Oct 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Download Monitor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass due to a missing capability check on several REST-API routes related to reporting in versions up to, and including, 4.7.51. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to view user data and other sensitive information intended for administrators.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-4972?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wpchill Download Monitor.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-4972?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-4972 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-4972 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-4972 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in wpchill 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-2021-24786](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24786/): Download Monitor < 4.4.5 - Admin+ SQL Injection (high 7.2)
- [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-2022-4972 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-4972 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in wpchill Download Monitor, published on 16 Oct 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-4972 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: wpchill 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-2022-4972/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4972/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-4972
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-4972
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-4972

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4972/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.