Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Adning Advertising for WordPress allowed unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files on sites running versions up to 1.5.5. Because uploaded files could enable server-side code execution, compromise could affect site content, customer data, and hosting integrity.
Executive priority
Treat as urgent for any WordPress estate using this plugin. The issue is unauthenticated, critical severity, and potentially leads to full site compromise. Prioritize inventory, upgrade or disablement, and compromise review.
Technical view
CVE-2020-36705 is CWE-434 in the plugin's _ning_upload_image function. Missing file type validation allowed unauthenticated arbitrary file upload. CVSS 3.1 is 9.8 with network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction required.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites with the Adning Advertising plugin installed at version 1.5.5 or earlier. The supplied affected metadata is incomplete, but the CVE description clearly names vulnerable versions up to and including 1.5.5.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks CISA KEV as false. However, the cited Nintechnet reference title reports active exploitation in the wild, and the vulnerability characteristics make opportunistic scanning plausible. Evidence provided does not include exploit volume or current activity.
Researcher notes
Do not rely on the affected CPE data alone; the bundle's affected entry is sparse. The strongest technical facts are the CVE description, CVSS vector, CWE-434 classification, and vendor/security references naming Adning Advertising through 1.5.5.
Mitigation direction
- Identify all WordPress sites using Adning Advertising.
- Upgrade beyond version 1.5.5 where vendor guidance confirms a patched release.
- Disable or remove the plugin if a patched version is unavailable.
- Review web server files for unexpected uploads.
- Check vendor and WordPress security advisories for cleanup guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory plugin versions across production, staging, and backups.
- Confirm no public site runs Adning Advertising 1.5.5 or earlier.
- Review WordPress uploads and plugin directories for unexpected executable files.
- Check web and application logs for unauthenticated upload activity.
- Validate remediation with authenticated admin version checks.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-434: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-36705 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4a263b74-e9ae-4fd2-be9b-9b8e9eee5982?source=cveCVE reference
- https://codecanyon.net/item/wp-pro-advertising-system-all-in-one-ad-manager/269693CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/critical-vulnerability-in-adning-advertising-plugin-actively-exploited-in-the-wild/CVE reference
- https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2020/07/critical-vulnerabilities-patched-in-adning-advertising-plugin/CVE reference
- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/e9873fe3-fc06-4a52-aa32-6922cab7830cCVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.