Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This WordPress plugin flaw lets an attacker abuse a logged-in administrator’s browser to save plugin meta box settings. It requires tricking an admin into taking an action, so it is not a direct unauthenticated takeover. The main business risk is unauthorized content or configuration changes on sites using vulnerable versions.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate-priority WordPress hygiene issue. It is not reported as actively exploited in the provided sources, but it can allow unauthorized site changes if administrators are targeted. Prioritize externally facing or business-critical WordPress sites first.
Technical view
CVE-2020-36752 is a CSRF issue in Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode Page versions up to and including 1.57. Missing or incorrect nonce validation in save_meta_box() allows unauthenticated attackers to cause meta box saves through a forged request when an administrator is induced to interact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites with the affected plugin installed at version 1.57 or earlier. The source bundle does not prove all installations are affected, and the affected CPE data is incomplete.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates network reachability, low attack complexity, no attacker privileges, and required user interaction. CISA KEV is false in the bundle, and no cited source confirms active exploitation. Successful abuse depends on an administrator performing a attacker-induced action.
Researcher notes
The key weakness is CWE-352 CSRF caused by missing or incorrect nonce validation. The bundle identifies the vulnerable function and affected range, but does not provide confirmed exploitation, detailed impact examples, or a definitive fixed version beyond indicating versions through 1.57 are vulnerable.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for this plugin and record installed versions.
- Upgrade affected installations according to vendor or WordPress plugin guidance.
- Disable or remove the plugin where a fixed release cannot be confirmed.
- Warn administrators not to follow unsolicited links while authenticated to WordPress.
- Review site content and plugin settings for unexpected changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether each WordPress site uses the affected plugin.
- Check whether installed versions are 1.57 or earlier.
- Review WordPress administrative logs for unexpected meta box or plugin setting changes.
- Verify the installed version includes proper nonce validation for save_meta_box().
- Track vendor, Wordfence, and WordPress Trac references for fixed-version confirmation.
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-2020-36752 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/d283527a-a955-4f82-9827-81a71158d8e2?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=2368978%40nifty-coming-soon-and-under-construction-page&new=2368978%40nifty-coming-soon-and-under-construction-page&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.