CVE-2020-36747 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2020-36747 article provides insights into a Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in the Lightweight Sidebar Manager plugin for WordPress.

Understanding CVE-2020-36747

What is CVE-2020-36747?

The Lightweight Sidebar Manager plugin for WordPress is susceptible to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in versions up to and including 1.1.4. The vulnerability arises from inadequate nonce validation on the metabox_save() function, enabling unauthenticated attackers to manipulate metbox data through a forged request.

The Impact of CVE-2020-36747

Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow malicious actors to alter metbox data on affected WordPress sites by tricking site administrators into taking specific actions, such as clicking on a link.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-36747

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Lightweight Sidebar Manager plugin for WordPress stems from missing or incorrect nonce validation on the metabox_save() function, facilitating CSRF attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: brainstormforce
Product: Lightweight Sidebar Manager
Versions Affected: up to and including 1.1.4

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate metbox data through a forged request, provided they can deceive a site administrator into performing an action like clicking on a link.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Lightweight Sidebar Manager plugin to version 1.1.5 or later to mitigate the CSRF vulnerability.
Implement strict access controls and user permissions to reduce the risk of 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

Apply security patches promptly and consistently to all WordPress plugins and themes to address known vulnerabilities.