CVE-2026-3835

Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files <= 2.8.8.8 - Unauthenticated Protected File Access

MEDIUM
5.3
CVSS Score
Published: August 13, 2026 at 05:29 AM UTC
Updated: August 14, 2026 at 07:26 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorPrevent Direct Access

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Severity
MEDIUM5.3
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.5%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

The Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of protected files due to insufficient token validation in the `get_advance_file_by_url()` method in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.8.8 The method uses a SQL `LIKE` operator for token lookup without escaping wildcard characters via `$wpdb->esc_like()`. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to bypass the private token requirement by supplying SQL wildcard characters (such as `%`) as the token value, matching any record in the plugin's file table and downloading any protected file.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v ≤ 2.8.8.8

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitAutomatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

5.3MEDIUMWordfence
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusDEFERRED
CWE
CWE-285

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