Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A logged-in WordPress user with even Subscriber-level access could abuse the 2J Slideshow plugin to perform admin-only behavior, including deactivating plugins. That can disrupt site functionality and weaken defenses if security plugins are disabled, but the source bundle does not show unauthenticated access or confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate-priority WordPress hygiene issue. It is not cited as actively exploited, but it can let a low-privilege account disrupt a site or disable protective plugins. Prioritize internet-facing sites with user registration or many authenticated users.
Technical view
CVE-2020-36729 is a CWE-285 authorization bypass in 2J-SlideShow up to and including 1.3.31. The wp_ajax_twoj_slideshow_setup AJAX action calls twoj_slideshow_setup without an adequate capability check, allowing authenticated low-privilege users to perform restricted actions, including arbitrary plugin deactivation. CVSS v3.1 is 5.4.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running Slideshow, Image Slider by 2J at vulnerable versions and allowing untrusted authenticated accounts. Public registration, customer portals, membership sites, or compromised low-privilege accounts raise practical risk.
Exploitation context
The source bundle indicates network exploitation with low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and no confidentiality impact. KEV is false, and no cited source in the bundle confirms active exploitation.
Researcher notes
The strongest technical signal is the missing capability check on the AJAX action. Sources identify authenticated Subscriber-or-above access and arbitrary plugin deactivation. Patch details are implied by the fixed-vulnerability references and WordPress Trac link, but the bundle does not provide a precise fixed version statement beyond vulnerable versions up to 1.3.31.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Slideshow, Image Slider by 2J versions up to 1.3.31.
- Upgrade beyond 1.3.31 only after confirming vendor guidance or changelog indicates the fix.
- Remove or disable the plugin where it is not required.
- Restrict untrusted authenticated accounts and review public registration settings.
- Review whether security or availability-critical plugins were unexpectedly deactivated.
Validation and detection
- Check each WordPress installation for the 2J Slideshow plugin and installed version.
- Confirm the deployed version is not listed as up to and including 1.3.31.
- Review admin activity and logs for unexpected plugin deactivation events.
- Validate that low-privilege users cannot access restricted plugin setup behavior.
- Document findings and remediation status per affected site.
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-285: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-36729 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L2.82.5Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f06d1b9e-e27d-4c43-a69b-7641518e4615?source=cveCVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/wordpress-2j-slideshow-plugin-fixed-authenticated-arbitrary-plugin-deactivation-vulnerability/CVE reference
- https://www.acunetix.com/vulnerabilities/web/wordpress-plugin-images-slideshow-by-2j-image-slider-security-bypass-1-3-31/CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=2226528%402j-slideshow&new=2226528%402j-slideshow&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=CVE 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.