Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a WordPress plugin CSRF issue. If an administrator is tricked into clicking a malicious link, an unauthenticated attacker may cause the Import / Export Customizer Settings plugin to display an import status. The described impact is limited integrity change, with no confidentiality or availability impact stated.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate-priority WordPress hygiene issue. It is not described as data theft or remote takeover, but administrator interaction can still cause unauthorized behavior. Remediate during the next normal WordPress maintenance window unless the plugin is broadly deployed.
Technical view
CVE-2020-36737 affects Import / Export Customizer Settings for WordPress through version 1.0.3. The astra_admin_errors() function lacked proper nonce validation, causing CWE-352 cross-site request forgery exposure. CVSS 3.1 is 4.3: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running Import / Export Customizer Settings version 1.0.3 or earlier. Risk depends on an administrator being logged in and induced to perform an action. The provided sources do not establish exposure for other products.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The attack requires user interaction by a site administrator. Public references describe CSRF research across WordPress plugins, but no weaponized exploitation evidence is provided here.
Researcher notes
The core issue is missing or incorrect nonce validation in astra_admin_errors(). The stated outcome is displaying an import status, so impact appears narrow. Evidence is incomplete on fixed version labeling and real-world exploitation; avoid expanding scope beyond the named plugin and versions through 1.0.3.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the affected plugin and version.
- Update beyond version 1.0.3 if vendor guidance confirms a fixed release.
- If no fixed release is available, disable the plugin until vendor guidance is clear.
- Restrict administrator browsing and reinforce anti-phishing controls.
Validation and detection
- Check installed plugin version on each WordPress site.
- Confirm whether astra_admin_errors() includes nonce validation in the installed code.
- Review WordPress plugin changelog or Trac changeset for the nonce-validation fix.
- Verify security scanners map findings specifically to CVE-2020-36737.
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-352: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. 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 lookupCVE-2020-36737 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
- 4.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
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:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N2.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/194face3-36ac-4137-af9a-0b98f60e3afb?source=cveCVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/25-wordpress-plugins-vulnerable-to-csrf-attacks/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/more-wordpress-plugins-and-themes-vulnerable-to-csrf-attacks/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-3/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-2/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-1/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-5/CVE reference
- https://blog.nintechnet.com/multiple-wordpress-plugins-fixed-csrf-vulnerabilities-part-4/CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=2368366%40astra-import-export&new=2368366%40astra-import-export&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.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.