CVE-2020-36737 in Import Export Customizer Settings Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2023
The Import / Export Customizer Settings plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 1.0.3. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the astra_admin_errors() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to display an import status via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2023
The CVE-2020-36737 vulnerability affects the Import / Export Customizer Settings plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 1.0.3. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress administrative operations by exploiting a Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability. The vulnerability stems from inadequate nonce validation within the astra_admin_errors() function, which serves as a crucial security mechanism for verifying legitimate administrative actions. The absence of proper nonce verification creates a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's import functionality without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of administrative requests through forged HTTP calls that appear legitimate to the WordPress administration interface. The astra_admin_errors() function, which handles error reporting and administrative notifications, fails to validate nonce tokens that should ensure requests originate from authenticated administrators. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to craft malicious requests that, when executed by administrators, can trigger import operations or display specific import status messages. The vulnerability operates under the principle that administrators are tricked into clicking on malicious links or visiting compromised pages that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable plugin.
From an operational standpoint, this CSRF vulnerability presents a significant risk to WordPress sites using the affected plugin version. Attackers can exploit this weakness by constructing malicious web pages or sending phishing emails that contain links designed to trigger the import functionality. When administrators inadvertently click these links while logged into their WordPress admin panels, the forged requests execute with the administrator's privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized import operations or exposure of sensitive configuration data. The impact extends beyond simple data manipulation, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to inject malicious configurations or compromise the overall security posture of the WordPress installation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery conditions in software applications. This classification emphasizes the fundamental security flaw where applications fail to validate that requests originate from legitimate sources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1213.002, which covers data from information repositories, as the vulnerability enables unauthorized access to plugin configurations and potentially sensitive data. Organizations should immediately update to patched versions of the plugin, implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls, and educate administrators about the risks of clicking untrusted links. The remediation process requires verifying that all administrative functions properly validate nonce tokens and that the plugin's import/export operations include proper authentication checks to prevent unauthorized execution of administrative tasks.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in WordPress plugins. Security practitioners should conduct regular audits of installed plugins to identify similar nonce validation issues and ensure that all administrative functions implement appropriate security controls. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor oversights in security implementation can create significant attack vectors, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive security testing and validation of all plugin components that interact with administrative functions. Organizations must maintain updated security practices and monitor for similar vulnerabilities across their entire WordPress ecosystem to prevent exploitation attempts that could lead to complete system compromise.