CVE-2020-36740 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2020-36740, a Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in the Radio Buttons for Taxonomies WordPress plugin. Find out how to mitigate the risk and secure your WordPress site.
CVE-2020-36740, assigned by Wordfence, pertains to a Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in the Radio Buttons for Taxonomies WordPress plugin.
Understanding CVE-2020-36740
The Radio Buttons for Taxonomies plugin for WordPress is susceptible to CSRF attacks due to missing or incorrect nonce validation.
What is CVE-2020-36740?
The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate terms via a forged request, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.
The Impact of CVE-2020-36740
Exploitation of this vulnerability could result in unauthorized term modifications by attackers, compromising the integrity of the affected WordPress sites.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-36740
The following technical details outline the specifics of CVE-2020-36740:
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in the Radio Buttons for Taxonomies plugin arises from inadequate nonce validation in the save_single_term() function, enabling CSRF attacks.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Vendor: helgatheviking
- Product: Radio Buttons for Taxonomies
- Versions Affected: Up to and including 2.0.5
- Versions Less Than: 2.0.6
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking site administrators into executing actions, such as clicking on malicious links, to save terms via forged requests.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2020-36740, consider the following mitigation strategies:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update the Radio Buttons for Taxonomies plugin to version 2.0.6 or higher to mitigate the CSRF vulnerability.
- Educate site administrators about the risks of CSRF attacks and the importance of verifying actions before execution.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement strict nonce validation mechanisms in WordPress plugins to prevent CSRF vulnerabilities.
- Regularly monitor and audit plugins for security issues to maintain a secure WordPress environment.
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security patches and updates for WordPress plugins to address known vulnerabilities promptly.