Async JavaScript <= 2.19.07.14 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting

Description

The Async JavaScript plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting in versions up to, and including, 2.19.07.14. This is due to missing authorization checks on the aj_steps AJAX aciton along with a lack on sanitization on the settings saved via the function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with subscriber level permissions and above to inject malicious web scripts into a page that execute whenever a user accesses that page.

Scores

EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)

0.27% · top 81% of all CVEs (7 Nov 2026)

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: partial

The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: Medium 6.4.

Weakness

• CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-79 and its CVEs

Affected products

• cloughit · Async JavaScript

  • affected < 2.20.02.27

References (2)

• https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b133888c-7673-4796-917c-486bff1b6b12?source=cve (opens in a new tab)
• https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2020/02/site-takeover-campaign-exploits-multiple-zero-day-vulnerabilities/ (opens in a new tab)

Sources

The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.

• CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
• CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
• NVD (opens in a new tab)
• FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
• OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
• GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
• CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)

Badge for a README or a ticket

[![CVE-2020-36854](https://trackcve.app/badge/CVE-2020-36854.svg)](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2020-36854)

Record last updated 8 Apr 2026, 17:16 UTC.