# CVE-2020-36731: Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce <= 2.3.1 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary Plugin Settings Update

> Unauthenticated attackers can modify plugin settings and inject scripts due to missing authorization checks in the Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce plugin.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **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-x5rc-5886-54gw

## What is CVE-2020-36731?

CVE-2020-36731 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in wpdesk Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce – WooCommerce Checkout Manager, 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 Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce  plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Unauthenticated Arbitrary Plugin Settings update, in addition to Stored Cross-Site Scripting in versions up to, and including, 2.3.1. This is due to missing authorization checks on the updateSettingsAction() function which is called via an admin_init hook, along with missing sanitization and escaping on the settings that are stored.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-36731?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wpdesk Flexible Checkout Fields.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-36731?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-36731 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-36731 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-36731 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce <= 2.3.1 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary Plugin Settings Update (nuclei): http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-36731.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in wpdesk Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce – WooCommerce Checkout Manager

- [CVE-2024-31267](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-31267/): WordPress Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce plugin <= 4.1.2 - Broken Access Control vulnerability (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-36731 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-36731 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in wpdesk Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce – WooCommerce Checkout Manager, 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-2020-36731 exists.

Affected product: wpdesk Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce – WooCommerce Checkout Manager. 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-2020-36731/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36731/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-36731
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36731
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-36731

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36731/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.