CVE-2020-36849
Published: 12 July 2025
Summary
CVE-2020-36849 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Ait-Themes Csv Import \/ Export. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 0.6% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2020-36849 is an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the AIT CSV import/export plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 3.0.3. The flaw arises from missing file type validation in the /wp-content/plugins/ait-csv-import-export/admin/upload-handler.php file, classified under CWE-434. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating critical severity due to its potential for high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Unauthorized attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requiring no privileges, user interaction, or special conditions. By leveraging the upload handler, they can place arbitrary files on the affected server, which may enable remote code execution.
Advisories from WPScan, Acunetix, and the plugin's official page at https://www.ait-themes.club/wordpress-plugins/csv-import-export/ detail the issue. Metasploit Framework includes an exploit module at https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/wp_ait_csv_rce.rb, confirming practical exploitability.
The vulnerability was published on 2025-07-12, with Metasploit modules highlighting its exploit development status.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2020-30798
Vulnerability details
The AIT CSV import/export plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to missing file type validation in the /wp-content/plugins/ait-csv-import-export/admin/upload-handler.php file in versions up to, and including, 3.0.3. This makes it possible for unauthorized attackers to upload arbitrary…
more
files on the affected sites server which may make remote code execution possible.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Arbitrary file upload in public-facing WordPress plugin directly enables remote exploitation (T1190) and web shell deployment for RCE (T1505.003).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Requires timely identification, reporting, and correction of the specific flaw in the AIT CSV plugin's upload handler, preventing arbitrary file uploads via patching.
Mandates information input validation mechanisms at upload points to enforce file type checking, directly countering the missing validation in the vulnerable endpoint.
Limits system to least functionality by disabling or restricting unnecessary plugins like AIT CSV import/export, eliminating the vulnerable upload handler.