Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A vulnerable WordPress plugin version can let an unauthenticated attacker read files outside the intended site directory and store script content that runs when publications are viewed or edited. For affected sites, this creates risk of sensitive file exposure and visitor or administrator browser compromise.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for any internet-facing WordPress property using this plugin version. The issue combines possible sensitive file access with stored browser-side compromise, and public exploit material is referenced.
Technical view
CVE-2020-37245 affects Supsystic Digital Publications 1.6.9. The bundle describes directory traversal through the Folder input field and stored XSS through unsanitized publication settings such as Area Width and Publication Width. CVSS v4.0 is 8.7, network-accessible, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites with Supsystic Digital Publications version 1.6.9 installed. The supplied sources do not prove other versions are affected or fixed.
Exploitation context
The bundle cites an ExploitDB entry, so public exploit material exists. KEV is false, and the supplied sources do not state active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
The record lists CWE-79, but the description also includes path traversal behavior. The bundle does not provide a vendor patch version, affected version range beyond 1.6.9, or evidence of active exploitation.
Mitigation direction
- Identify and disable Supsystic Digital Publications 1.6.9 on exposed WordPress sites.
- Check Supsystic and WordPress plugin guidance for a fixed release before re-enabling.
- Remove the plugin if it is not business-critical.
- Review affected publication settings for injected script content.
- Preserve relevant web and WordPress logs before cleanup.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress sites for Digital Publications by Supsystic version 1.6.9.
- Confirm whether vulnerable publication features are reachable from the internet.
- Review publication settings fields for unexpected script content or suspicious values.
- Check logs for traversal-like requests against plugin paths or publication endpoints.
- Verify remediation by confirming 1.6.9 is disabled, 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-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.
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-2020-37245 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
- High
- CVSS
- 8.7 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe 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:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N3.93.6VulnCheckVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
8.7HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-49542CVE reference, VulnCheck · exploit
- Official Product HomepageCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- Product ReferenceCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: WordPress Plugin Supsystic Digital Publications 1.6.9 Path Traversal XSSCVE reference, VulnCheck · third-party-advisory
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.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.