CVE-2020-36176

iThemes Security <= 7.6.1 - Broken Password Mechanism

2021-01-06 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 7.7.0
Affected Plugin: Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection
Affected Version: <= 7.6.1
CVSS: 7.5High
Weakness type: CWE-286 · Incorrect User Management
CVE: CVE-2020-36176

View all Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2020-36176 is a high-severity Incorrect User Management vulnerability in the Kadence Security WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 7.6.1. It carries a CVSS score of 7.5 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high integrity impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 7.7.0; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed January 2021.

Vulnerability Overview

The iThemes Security (formerly Better WP Security) plugin before 7.7.0 for WordPress does not enforce a new-password requirement for an existing account until the second login occurs.

Technical Analysis

The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on integrity.

CWE-286: Incorrect User Management

The product does not properly manage a user within its environment.

Remediation

Update to version 7.7.0, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

The fix is the thing that ends this: Kadence Security 7.7.0 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-36176 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/5749a496-930a-4e31-968e-0c2a72e03555 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36176

Related records

Other vulnerabilities in Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection

CVSS Vector

7.5

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredNone
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityNone

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