CVE-2020-36656 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides insights into CVE-2020-36656, a vulnerability in the Spectra WordPress plugin.

Understanding CVE-2020-36656

This CVE involves a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Spectra version 1.15.0 and below.

What is CVE-2020-36656?

The Spectra WordPress plugin before version 1.15.0 is susceptible to stored XSS attacks due to inadequate sanitization of user input in the style HTML attribute within the plugin's Gutenberg blocks.

The Impact of CVE-2020-36656

This vulnerability allows contributors to execute malicious scripts, potentially leading to unauthorized actions, data theft, or site defacement.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-36656

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the lack of proper input sanitization in the Spectra plugin, enabling contributors to inject and execute malicious scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Unknown
Product: Spectra
Versions Affected: Spectra version 1.15.0 and below

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by inserting malicious scripts into the plugin's Gutenberg blocks, which are executed when accessed by users.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your system from CVE-2020-36656 with these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Spectra plugin to version 1.15.0 or newer to patch the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for suspicious activities on your WordPress site.

Long-Term Security Practices

Educate contributors on secure coding practices to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
Implement a web application firewall to filter and block malicious traffic.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for WordPress plugins and apply them promptly to safeguard against known vulnerabilities.