CVE-2020-36742 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

CVE-2020-36742, assigned by Wordfence, pertains to a vulnerability in the Custom Field Template plugin for WordPress, allowing Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks.

Understanding CVE-2020-36742

This CVE involves a security issue in the Custom Field Template plugin for WordPress that could be exploited by attackers to perform Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks.

What is CVE-2020-36742?

The Custom Field Template plugin for WordPress is susceptible to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to and including 2.5.1. The vulnerability arises from inadequate nonce validation on the edit_meta_value() function, enabling unauthorized individuals to manipulate meta field values through a forged request if they can deceive a site administrator into taking specific actions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-36742

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized modification of meta field values on affected WordPress sites, potentially resulting in data manipulation or unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-36742

This section provides detailed technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Custom Field Template plugin for WordPress allows unauthenticated attackers to edit meta field values through forged requests due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the edit_meta_value() function.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: hiroaki-miyashita
Product: Custom Field Template
Versions Affected: Up to and including 2.5.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking site administrators into performing actions like clicking on malicious links, enabling them to manipulate meta field values.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-36742 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Custom Field Template plugin to version 2.5.2 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Educate site administrators about the risks of clicking on unverified links to prevent CSRF attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update WordPress plugins to address security vulnerabilities promptly.
Implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized actions.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all WordPress plugins, including Custom Field Template, are regularly updated to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.