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CVE Record

CVE-2020-36720: Kali Forms <= 2.1.1 - Missing Authorization to Settings Update

The Kali Forms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authenticated Options Change in versions up to, and including, 2.1.1. This is due to the update_option lacking proper authentication checks. This makes it possible for any authenticated attacker to change (or delete) the plugin's settings.

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A WordPress site using Kali Forms version 2.1.1 or earlier may let any logged-in user change or delete the plugin’s settings. That can disrupt forms or expose sensitive configuration, depending on how the site uses the plugin.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation on public WordPress sites where many users can log in. The business risk is unauthorized configuration change, possible sensitive setting exposure, and form disruption.

Technical view

CVE-2020-36720 is a missing authorization issue in Kali Forms settings update handling. The source states update_option lacked proper authentication checks, allowing any authenticated attacker to change or delete plugin settings. CVSS 3.1 is 7.1 with network access, low privileges, and no user interaction.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running Kali Forms up to and including 2.1.1 with attacker access to any authenticated account.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The issue is still practical because exploitation only requires a logged-in WordPress account.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports CWE-862 missing authorization in settings update behavior. The bundle does not include exploit details, active exploitation evidence, or a fully described patch note, so validate fixes against vendor and WordPress plugin records.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory WordPress sites using Kali Forms.
  • Treat Kali Forms versions <= 2.1.1 as vulnerable.
  • Update Kali Forms following WordPress.org or vendor guidance.
  • Limit unnecessary WordPress user accounts and low-trust logins.
  • Review Kali Forms settings for unexpected changes.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed Kali Forms version on each WordPress site.
  • Check whether any site runs version 2.1.1 or earlier.
  • Review WordPress users with active authenticated access.
  • Audit Kali Forms settings for unexpected modification or deletion.
  • Verify remediation against current vendor guidance.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · medium confidence lookup

CWE-862: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup

Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. 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.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-36720 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N2.84.2Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2020-36720Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
wpchillKali Forms — Contact Form & Drag-and-Drop Builder0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-862

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-862 · source CWE mapping

Missing Authorization

Missing Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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