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CVE Record

CVE-2020-36769: Widget Settings Importer/Exporter Plugin <= 1.5.3 - Unauthorized Widget Import to Stored Cross-Site Scripting

The Widget Settings Importer/Exporter Plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the wp_ajax_import_widget_dataparameter AJAX action in versions up to, and including, 1.5.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with subscriber-level permissions and above to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.

HighCVSS 7.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This WordPress plugin flaw lets a logged-in low-privilege user place stored script content through the widget import function. The script can later run for site visitors or administrators who view affected pages. Business risk is highest on sites that allow many subscriber accounts or rely on this plugin in production.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority WordPress plugin exposure if the plugin is present. It is not a confirmed internet-wide emergency from the supplied evidence, but stored XSS can affect administrators and visitors, so production sites should be inventoried and remediated promptly.

Technical view

CVE-2020-36769 is stored cross-site scripting in Widget Settings Importer/Exporter through the wp_ajax_import_widget_data AJAX action. Sources attribute it to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in versions up to and including 1.5.3. The issue requires authenticated subscriber-level access or higher and is scored CVSS 3.1 7.4.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to WordPress sites with Widget Settings Importer/Exporter installed at version 1.5.3 or earlier, especially where subscriber or other low-privilege accounts exist. Evidence in the bundle does not establish exposure for unrelated WordPress plugins or core WordPress.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as CISA KEV in the provided bundle, and no cited source confirms active exploitation. The described attacker is authenticated with subscriber-level permissions or above. The vulnerability creates stored XSS risk without needing a separate victim interaction beyond viewing the injected page.

Researcher notes

The public description identifies the vulnerable AJAX action and root cause but does not provide complete remediation detail in the bundle. Validate findings through version inventory and safe content review, not exploit reproduction. Do not assume active exploitation without KEV or another cited confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory WordPress sites for Widget Settings Importer/Exporter and version details.
  • Check vendor or WordPress plugin guidance for a fixed release or official mitigation.
  • Disable or remove the plugin if no safe supported version is confirmed.
  • Limit creation and use of subscriber-level accounts where the plugin remains present.
  • Review affected widget content for unexpected scripts after remediation.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether the plugin is installed on each WordPress property.
  • Verify installed versions are not 1.5.3 or earlier unless mitigated.
  • Review users with subscriber-level or higher access for unnecessary accounts.
  • Inspect widget settings and rendered pages for unexpected script content.
  • Check WordPress and web logs for suspicious widget import activity.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

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-79: 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.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-36769 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.4 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
3Source 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
7.4CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L3.13.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.4High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2020-36769Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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
kevinlangleyjrWidget Settings Importer/Exporter0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-79

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