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CVE Record

CVE-2020-36840: Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress <= 2.3.8 - Missing Authorization

The Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass due to a missing capability check on the wp_ajax_route_url() function called via a nopriv AJAX action in versions up to, and including, 2.3.8. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to call that function and perform a wide variety of actions such as including random template, injecting malicious web scripts, and more.

HighCVSS 7.3Not 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 unauthenticated visitors reach functionality that should have required permission checks. On affected sites, that could allow unwanted template inclusion or malicious script injection. Treat it as a high-priority website exposure if the Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress plugin is installed at version 2.3.8 or earlier.

Executive priority

Prioritize within the normal high-severity patch window for internet-facing WordPress sites. Escalate faster for revenue-generating, regulated, or high-traffic sites because exploitation would not require login credentials.

Technical view

CVE-2020-36840 is a CWE-862 missing authorization issue in wp_ajax_route_url(), exposed through a nopriv AJAX action. Sources describe unauthenticated access with low attack complexity and no user interaction. Reported impact is limited confidentiality, integrity, and availability loss, reflected by CVSS 3.1 score 7.3.

Likely exposure

Likely exposure is public WordPress sites running Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress versions up to and including 2.3.8. The provided affected-version metadata is sparse, so confirm installed plugin name, slug, and version locally.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability is still concerning because it is unauthenticated, network reachable, and tied to WordPress AJAX behavior often exposed on public sites.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports missing authorization in a nopriv AJAX path, but the bundle does not provide exploit telemetry or detailed patch notes. Avoid assuming compromise from version alone; validate exposure, logs, and site integrity.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory WordPress sites for Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress.
  • Update the plugin to a vendor-supported fixed release newer than 2.3.8, if available.
  • Disable or remove the plugin where a fixed version cannot be deployed.
  • Review vendor and WordPress plugin changelog guidance before production rollout.
  • Audit affected sites for unexpected templates, scripts, or content changes.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed plugin version across all WordPress environments.
  • Check whether unauthenticated AJAX access to the vulnerable action is still reachable.
  • Review web logs for suspicious unauthenticated AJAX requests to the plugin.
  • Verify no unexpected scripts or template changes exist after remediation.
  • Run regression checks for timetable and event display functionality.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
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-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.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Privilege 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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-36840 mapping review

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

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.3 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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
7.3CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L3.93.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.3High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2020-36840Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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
jetmonstersTimetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-862

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