CVE-2020-36746 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-36746, a Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in the Menu Swapper WordPress plugin, allowing attackers to manipulate meta data. Find mitigation steps and best practices here.
CVE-2020-36746, assigned by Wordfence, pertains to a Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in the Menu Swapper WordPress plugin.
Understanding CVE-2020-36746
This CVE identifies a security issue in the Menu Swapper plugin for WordPress, allowing unauthenticated attackers to manipulate meta data through forged requests.
What is CVE-2020-36746?
The vulnerability in the Menu Swapper plugin for WordPress enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions by tricking site administrators into executing specific tasks.
The Impact of CVE-2020-36746
The vulnerability poses a medium risk, with a CVSS base score of 4.3, allowing attackers to exploit the plugin's missing or incorrect nonce validation.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-36746
The technical aspects of this CVE provide insight into the vulnerability's description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from inadequate nonce validation in the mswp_save_meta() function, enabling attackers to save meta data via manipulated requests.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Vendor: sevenspark
- Product: Menu Swapper
- Versions Affected: Up to and including 1.1.0.2
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging forged requests to manipulate meta data, potentially compromising the integrity of the affected WordPress sites.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2020-36746, immediate steps and long-term security practices are crucial.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update the Menu Swapper plugin to a version beyond 1.1.0.2 to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Educate site administrators on recognizing and avoiding CSRF attacks.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly monitor and update WordPress plugins to prevent security vulnerabilities.
- Implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to enhance site security.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates for all WordPress plugins to address known vulnerabilities.