Custom Searchable Data Entry System <= 1.7.1 - Unauthenticated Database Wiping
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Unpatched
- Affected Plugin
- Custom Searchable Data Entry System
- Affected Version
<= 1.7.1- CVSS
- 9.1Critical
- Weakness type
- CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
- CVE
CVE-2020-36852
At a glance
CVE-2020-36852 is a critical-severity Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Custom Searchable Data Entry System WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 1.7.1. It carries a CVSS score of 9.1 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. No fixed release has been reported yet; treat installations running this software as exposed. Disclosed March 2020, reported by Sean Murphy.
Vulnerability Overview
The Custom Searchable Data Entry System plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthenticated database wiping in versions up to, and including 1.7.1, due to a missing capability check and lack of sufficient validation on the ghazale_sds_delete_entries_table_row() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to completely wipe database tables such as wp_users.
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, availability.
CWE-862: Missing Authorization
Custom Searchable Data Entry System <= 1.7.1 carries this weakness at ghazale_sds_delete_entries_table_row(), and reaching it takes no account at all. A missing authorization check means a function is reachable by anyone who can reach the endpoint, because the code never asks whether the caller is allowed to perform the action.
Any user who can reach the endpoint gets to run an action reserved for higher-privileged roles, from reading protected data to changing settings or content. No fixed build of this plugin is recorded for Custom Searchable Data Entry System yet, so installs running <= 1.7.1 stay exposed until the vendor ships one.
Remediation
No known patch available. Please review the vulnerability's details in depth and employ mitigations based on your organization's risk tolerance. It may be best to uninstall the affected software and find a replacement.
How does WordSec protect against this?
This one needs no account at all, which puts it outside what login hardening can reach; WordSec's login security narrows the account-level paths around it, and the firewall is what inspects the request itself. No patched version is recorded yet, which is the case where a filtering layer matters most, because there is nothing to update to.
- Login Security
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Other vulnerabilities in Custom Searchable Data Entry System
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