Subscriber-level stored XSS via unchecked settings update
Published Oct 18, 2025 · Updated Oct 18, 2025
Stored XSS in cloughit Async JavaScript before 2.20.02.27 allows remote authenticated users to execute JavaScript via crafted settings. The authenticated aj_steps AJAX action writes attacker-controlled plugin settings without a capability check or adequate sanitization. Subscriber access is sufficient; the stored payload runs when a WordPress administrator opens affected dashboard areas, enabling actions in that session.
Summary
What happened
Stored XSS in cloughit Async JavaScript before 2.20.02.27 allows remote authenticated users to execute JavaScript via crafted settings. The authenticated aj_steps AJAX action writes attacker-controlled plugin settings without a capability check or adequate sanitization. Subscriber access is sufficient; the stored payload runs when a WordPress administrator opens affected dashboard areas, enabling actions in that session.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-36854
- Published
- Oct 18, 2025
- Updated
- Oct 18, 2025
- Vendor
- Clough I.T. Solutions
- Product
- Async JavaScript
- Classifications
- CWE-79, T1059.007
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 18, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=* <2.20.02.27
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- Wordfence 2020 site-takeover campaignreported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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