CVE-2020-36738 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2020-36738 article provides insights into a Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in the Cool Timeline WordPress plugin.

Understanding CVE-2020-36738

What is CVE-2020-36738?

The Cool Timeline (Horizontal & Vertical Timeline) plugin for WordPress is susceptible to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) due to inadequate nonce validation, allowing unauthenticated attackers to manipulate field icons.

The Impact of CVE-2020-36738

This vulnerability enables malicious actors to execute unauthorized actions on affected WordPress sites, potentially compromising site integrity and data.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-36738

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Cool Timeline plugin arises from missing or incorrect nonce validation in the ctl_save() function, facilitating CSRF attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: narinder-singh
Product: Cool Timeline (Horizontal & Vertical Timeline)
Versions Affected: Up to and including 2.0.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking site administrators into triggering forged requests, allowing them to save field icons without authentication.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Cool Timeline plugin to version 2.0.3 or higher to mitigate the CSRF vulnerability.
Implement strict access controls and user authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized actions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit plugins for security vulnerabilities.
Educate site administrators on recognizing and avoiding social engineering tactics used in CSRF attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates for WordPress plugins to address known vulnerabilities effectively.