CVE-2019-20903 : Security Advisory and Response

A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Atlassian's @atlaskit/editor-core prior to version 113.1.5 allows remote attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript through hyperlinks.

Understanding CVE-2019-20903

This CVE involves a security issue in the hyperlinks feature of Atlassian's @atlaskit/editor-core.

What is CVE-2019-20903?

The vulnerability in @atlaskit/editor-core before version 113.1.5 permits external attackers to execute XSS attacks by manipulating link targets.

The Impact of CVE-2019-20903

The XSS vulnerability enables malicious actors to introduce unauthorized HTML or JavaScript code into the system, potentially leading to various security breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-20903

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in @atlaskit/editor-core allows attackers to exploit the hyperlinks functionality to inject their own HTML or JavaScript code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: @atlaskit/editor-core
Vendor: Atlassian
Versions Affected: All versions before 113.1.5

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers outside the system can leverage the XSS vulnerability in link targets to introduce malicious HTML or JavaScript.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures to address and prevent exploitation of CVE-2019-20903.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade @atlaskit/editor-core to version 113.1.5 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement input validation to sanitize user-generated content and prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software components to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Atlassian for @atlaskit/editor-core.
Apply patches promptly to ensure the system is protected against known vulnerabilities.