# CVE-2023-6421: Download Manager < 3.2.83 - Unauthenticated Protected File Download Password Leak

> Unauthenticated attackers can leak protected file download passwords by submitting invalid ones, exposing sensitive credentials.

- **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:** 1 Jan 2024
- **Updated:** 18 Jun 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3qcq-28jc-g3f4

## What is CVE-2023-6421?

CVE-2023-6421 is a high-severity vulnerability in Unknown Download Manager, published on 1 Jan 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Download Manager WordPress plugin before 3.2.83 does not protect file download's passwords, leaking it upon receiving an invalid one.

Weakness: CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6421?

It affects 1 product.


Products: W3eden Download Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-6421?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-6421 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-6421 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-6421 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Download Manager < 3.2.83 - Unauthenticated Protected File Download Password Leak (github_poc): https://github.com/RandomRobbieBF/CVE-2023-6421
- WordPress Download Manager - File Password Exposure (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-6421.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Download Manager

- [CVE-2022-2436](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2436/): Download Manager <= 3.2.49 - Authenticated (Contributor+) PHAR Deserialization (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-25069](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-25069/): WordPress Download Manager < 3.2.34 - Authenticated SQL Injection to Reflected XSS (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2014-9260](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9260/): Missing authorization in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-2431](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2431/): Download Manager <= 3.2.50 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Arbitrary File Deletion (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2024-2098](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-2098/): Download Manager <= 3.2.89 - Improper Authorization via protectMediaLibrary (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-6421 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-6421 is a high-severity vulnerability in Unknown Download Manager, published on 1 Jan 2024. 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-2023-6421 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Download Manager. 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-2023-6421/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6421/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6421
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6421
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-6421

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6421/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.