CVE-2020-36702 in Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/07/2023
The Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authenticated Settings Change in versions up to, and including, 1.14.7. This is due to missing capability checks on several AJAX actions. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with subscriber+ roles to update the plugin's settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-36702 affects the Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg WordPress plugin, a popular extension that enhances the Gutenberg block editor with additional functionality. This plugin has been widely adopted by WordPress users seeking to extend their content creation capabilities within the modern editor interface. The vulnerability exists in versions up to and including 1.14.7, representing a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this plugin. The flaw lies in the plugin's implementation of access control mechanisms, specifically within its AJAX handling functionality, where proper capability checks have been omitted or inadequately implemented.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization validation within the plugin's AJAX endpoints. When authenticated users interact with the plugin's administrative functions through AJAX requests, the system fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses the appropriate privileges to perform the specific action. This missing capability check creates a privilege escalation path where users with minimal permissions such as subscribers can manipulate plugin settings that should only be accessible to administrators or editors. The vulnerability specifically impacts several AJAX actions that handle plugin configuration modifications, allowing unauthorized changes to be persisted within the WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables authenticated attackers with subscriber-level privileges to execute unauthorized modifications to the plugin's configuration settings. This creates a persistent threat vector where malicious users can alter plugin behavior, potentially introducing backdoors, disabling security features, or modifying functionality in ways that could compromise the entire WordPress site. The implications extend beyond simple configuration changes since plugin settings often control core functionality, access controls, and integration points with other system components. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, manipulate content delivery, or create conditions that facilitate further exploitation of the WordPress installation.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software systems where insufficient checks prevent unauthorized users from performing privileged operations. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts with the use of legitimate credentials to gain access to systems and maintain persistence. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to the latest version of the Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg plugin where the capability checks have been properly implemented. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized configuration changes and user activities that deviate from normal administrative patterns. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while regular security audits of third-party plugins should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.