CVE-2020-11106 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Responsive Filemanager through 9.14.0 is affected by a vulnerability that allows stored XSS due to unsanitized session variable handling.

Understanding CVE-2020-11106

What is CVE-2020-11106?

An issue in Responsive Filemanager through version 9.14.0 allows for stored XSS by manipulating unsanitized session variables.

The Impact of CVE-2020-11106

The vulnerability enables an attacker to execute malicious scripts within the context of a user's session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-11106

Vulnerability Description

The flaw exists in the dialog.php page of Responsive Filemanager, where the session variable $_SESSION['RF']["view_type"] is not sanitized, allowing for stored XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Responsive Filemanager
Vendor: N/A
Versions: All versions up to 9.14.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker opens ajax_calls.php and uses the "view" action, inserting a payload in the type parameter.
Upon returning to the dialog.php page, the stored XSS occurs due to the unsanitized session variable.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Responsive Filemanager to version 9.14.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor and review session variables for any suspicious or unsanitized data.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and sanitization mechanisms to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and code reviews to identify and address similar issues proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates for all software components to address known vulnerabilities promptly.