# CVE-2026-42638: Easy Digital Downloads broken access control vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-42638-unauthenticated-broken-access-control-in-easy-digital-downloads-3  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-06. Updated: 2026-10-06  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-42638 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-10-06

Easy Digital Downloads is a WordPress plugin that enables online stores to sell digital products. A broken access control vulnerability allows attackers without authentication to access pages and perform actions they should not have permission to perform, such as viewing other users' data. This could expose sensitive customer information, purchase history, and account details.

Technologies: [Easy Digital Downloads](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/easy-digital-downloads). Vendors: [Easy Digital Downloads](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/easy-digital-downloads).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-42638 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-42638 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-42638?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 6 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Easy Digital Downloads <= 3.7.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-42638?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Patchstack has issued a mitigation rule to block exploitation attempts until an official patch becomes available. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-42638 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-42638?** Check whether you run Easy Digital Downloads at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix


Patchstack has issued a mitigation rule to block exploitation attempts until an official patch becomes available.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is an unauthenticated broken access control flaw in Easy Digital Downloads versions 3.7.1 and earlier. Attackers can bypass access restrictions and access sensitive functionality without requiring authentication or user interaction, potentially exposing customer data and transaction information. No official patch was available at the time of publication.

## Affected products

- Easy Digital Downloads Easy Digital Downloads <= 3.7.1

## Timeline

- 2026-10-06: disclosed
- 2026-10-05: advisory

## References

- [https://wordpress.org/plugins](https://wordpress.org/plugins)
- [https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/easy-digital-downloads/vulnerability/wordpress-easy-digital-downloads-plugin-3-7-1-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve](https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/easy-digital-downloads/vulnerability/wordpress-easy-digital-downloads-plugin-3-7-1-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve)

## Related threats

- [Easy Digital Downloads authentication bypass leading to account takeover](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-120538-the-easy-digital-downloads-plugin-for-wordpress-is-vulnerable-to)
- [Easy Digital Downloads stored XSS in PayPal IPN parameters](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-14335-the-easy-digital-downloads-ecommerce-payments-and-subscriptions)
- [Syed Balkhi Easy Digital Downloads arbitrary file deletion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-66476-syed-balkhi-easy-digital-downloads-arbitrary-file-deletion)
- [Easy Digital Downloads broken access control](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-39503-easy-digital-downloads-broken-access-control)
- [Easy Digital Downloads CSRF in Square Gateway Connection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-7533-easy-digital-downloads-csrf-in-square-gateway-connection)