# CVE-2020-36708: Epsilon Framework Themes (Various Versions) - Function Injection

> Unauthenticated attackers can achieve remote code execution via function injection in multiple Epsilon Framework WordPress themes.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 Jun 2023
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-48h4-c5mw-4h8j

## What is CVE-2020-36708?

CVE-2020-36708 is a critical code injection vulnerability in machothemes Activello, published on 7 Jun 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The following themes for WordPress are vulnerable to Function Injections in versions up to and including Shapely <= 1.2.7, NewsMag <= 2.4.1, Activello <= 1.4.0, Illdy <= 2.1.4, Allegiant <= 1.2.2, Newspaper X <= 1.3.1, Pixova Lite <= 2.0.5, Brilliance <= 1.2.7, MedZone Lite <= 1.2.4, Regina Lite <= 2.0.4, Transcend <= 1.1.8, Affluent <= 1.1.0, Bonkers <= 1.0.4, Antreas <= 1.0.2, Sparkling <= 2.4.8, and NatureMag Lite <= 1.0.4. This is due to epsilon_framework_ajax_action. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to call functions and achieve remote code execution.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-36708?

It affects 16 products.


Products: Colorlib Activello, Colorlib Bonkers, Colorlib Illdy, Colorlib Newspaper X, Colorlib Pixova Lite, Colorlib Shapely, Colorlib Sparklinkg, Cpothemes Affluent, Cpothemes Allegiant, Cpothemes Brilliance, Cpothemes Transcend, Machothemes Antreas, Machothemes Medzone Lite, Machothemes Naturemag Lite, Machothemes Newsmag, Machothemes Regina Lite.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-36708?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-36708 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-36708 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-36708 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Proof of concept for CVE-2020-36708 (github_poc): https://github.com/b1g-b33f/CVE-2020-36708
- WordPress Epsilon Framework Themes <=2.4.8 - Remote Code Execution (nuclei): http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-36708.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in machothemes Activello

- [CVE-2020-36721](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36721/): Epsilon Framework Themes (Various Versions) - Unauthenticated Plugin Activation/Deactivation (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2022-45358](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45358/): WordPress Activello Theme <= 1.4.4 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-36708 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-36708 is a critical code injection vulnerability in machothemes Activello, published on 7 Jun 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-36708 exists.

Affected product: machothemes Activello. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36708/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36708/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-36708
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36708
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-36708

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36708/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.