CVE-2020-36749 in Easy Testimonials Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2023
The Easy Testimonials plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 3.6.1. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the saveCustomFields() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to save custom fields 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 Easy Testimonials plugin for WordPress presents a significant security weakness through its vulnerability to Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks as documented in CVE-2020-36749. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.6.1, creating a persistent risk for WordPress sites that utilize this plugin. The flaw resides specifically within the saveCustomFields() function where proper nonce validation is either absent or improperly implemented, fundamentally undermining the security mechanisms designed to protect against unauthorized modifications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to validate cryptographic nonces during the custom field saving process. Nonces serve as critical security tokens that ensure requests originate from legitimate sources within the WordPress ecosystem. When this validation is missing or flawed, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users, particularly administrators who possess elevated privileges. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities as those lacking proper validation of request origins and user authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it enables attackers to manipulate testimonial content in ways that could compromise site integrity and user trust. An unauthenticated attacker could potentially inject malicious content, alter existing testimonials, or manipulate the plugin's configuration settings through carefully crafted forged requests. The attack vector requires social engineering to trick administrators into executing malicious actions, typically through deceptive links or embedded content that appears legitimate to the targeted user.
From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents a low-effort, high-impact vector for compromising WordPress installations that use the Easy Testimonials plugin. The attack chain involves creating malicious requests that bypass the normal authentication checks, allowing unauthorized modifications to occur when administrators unknowingly interact with malicious content. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which describes the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to gain access to administrative functions. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the plugin's security architecture that requires immediate remediation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Easy Testimonials plugin where the nonce validation has been properly addressed. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as role-based access controls, regular security audits, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper nonce implementation in WordPress plugins and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing during the development lifecycle to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.