CVE-2020-36754 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record pertains to a vulnerability in the Paid Memberships Pro plugin for WordPress, allowing for Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks.

Understanding CVE-2020-36754

The vulnerability in the Paid Memberships Pro plugin for WordPress exposes sites to CSRF attacks due to missing or incorrect nonce validation.

What is CVE-2020-36754?

The Paid Memberships Pro plugin for WordPress is susceptible to Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks in versions up to 2.4.2, enabling unauthenticated attackers to manipulate site pages through forged requests.

The Impact of CVE-2020-36754

This vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions on affected WordPress sites, potentially compromising user data and site integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-36754

The following technical details outline the specifics of this CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from inadequate nonce validation in the pmpro_page_save() function of the Paid Memberships Pro plugin, facilitating CSRF attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: strangerstudios
Product: Paid Memberships Pro – Content Restriction, User Registration, & Paid Subscriptions
Versions Affected: Up to and including 2.4.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking site administrators into executing actions, such as clicking on malicious links, to forge requests and manipulate site pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2020-36754, consider the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Paid Memberships Pro plugin to version 2.4.3 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 and security 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, ensuring timely installation to address known vulnerabilities.