CVE-2020-11078 : Security Advisory and Response

In httplib2 before version 0.18.0, an attacker controlling unescaped part of uri for

httplib2.Http.request()

could change request headers and body, send additional hidden requests to the same server. This vulnerability impacts software that uses httplib2 with a uri constructed by string concatenation, as opposed to proper urllib building with escaping. This has been fixed in version 0.18.0.

Understanding CVE-2020-11078

What is CVE-2020-11078?

CVE-2020-11078 is a CRLF injection vulnerability in httplib2 before version 0.18.0, allowing an attacker to manipulate request headers and body.

The Impact of CVE-2020-11078

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 6.8, with high integrity impact and medium severity. An attacker can modify requests and potentially perform hidden actions on the server.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-11078

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in httplib2 allows an attacker to control unescaped parts of the URI, leading to unauthorized manipulation of requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: httplib2
Vendor: httplib2
Versions Affected: < 0.81.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by constructing URIs using string concatenation instead of proper urllib building with escaping.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update httplib2 to version 0.18.0 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid constructing URIs using string concatenation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent CRLF injection vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches for httplib2 to address known vulnerabilities.