Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-36849 is a critical WordPress plugin flaw in AIT CSV import/export up to version 3.0.3. Unauthenticated attackers may upload arbitrary files to affected servers, which can lead to full site compromise and possible remote code execution.
Executive priority
Treat this as urgent for any WordPress environment using the plugin. The business risk is website takeover, data exposure, defacement, and service disruption. Prioritize inventory, containment, and compromise review.
Technical view
The reported issue is missing file type validation in /wp-content/plugins/ait-csv-import-export/admin/upload-handler.php. It is classified as CWE-434 with CVSS 9.8, requiring no authentication, no user interaction, and low attack complexity. Source evidence does not name a fixed version.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites with the AIT CSV import/export plugin installed, especially versions up to and including 3.0.3. Internet-facing WordPress sites are the main concern because the flaw is unauthenticated.
Exploitation context
The source bundle includes Rapid7 Metasploit module references, indicating public exploit tooling exists. The CVE is not marked KEV, and the provided sources do not prove active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Affected-version evidence comes from the CVE description and vulnerability advisories, but the bundle’s structured affected entry is incomplete. No patch version is named in the provided sources, so remediation should be verified against vendor guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the AIT CSV import/export plugin.
- Disable or remove the plugin if it is not business-critical.
- Check AIT Themes or trusted advisories for fixed-version guidance.
- Update only to a vendor-supported version confirmed to address this issue.
- Review affected hosts for compromise before returning them to service.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether the plugin exists under wp-content/plugins/ait-csv-import-export/.
- Check installed plugin version and compare against 3.0.3 or earlier.
- Review web logs for requests to admin/upload-handler.php.
- Inspect upload and plugin directories for unexpected executable files.
- Validate remediation by confirming the vulnerable plugin is removed or vendor-fixed.
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-434: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. 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 lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-36849 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cece751c-400d-42b4-9438-950d5aca51fc?source=cveCVE reference
- https://www.ait-themes.club/wordpress-plugins/csv-import-export/CVE reference
- https://www.acunetix.com/vulnerabilities/web/wordpress-plugin-ait-themes-csv-import-export-arbitrary-file-upload-3-0-3/CVE reference
- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/36e699a4-91f2-426d-ba14-26036fbfeaeaCVE reference
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master//modules/exploits/multi/http/wp_ait_csv_rce.rbCVE reference
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/wp_ait_csv_rce.rbCVE 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.
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.