CVE-2020-13146 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Open edX Ironwood 2.5 allows CSV injection due to a vulnerability in the Course>Instructor>Cohorts feature.

Understanding CVE-2020-13146

This CVE involves a security issue in Open edX Ironwood 2.5 that enables CSV injection through a specific feature.

What is CVE-2020-13146?

The vulnerability in Open edX Ironwood 2.5 allows for CSV injection when a cohort added in Course>Instructor>Cohorts contains a formula that gets exported via the "Course>Data Downloads>Reports>Download profile info" functionality.

The Impact of CVE-2020-13146

This vulnerability could potentially lead to CSV injection attacks, allowing malicious actors to manipulate data and potentially execute arbitrary code.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-13146

Open edX Ironwood 2.5 is susceptible to CSV injection due to the following reasons:

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when a cohort in Course>Instructor>Cohorts includes a formula that is later exported through the "Course>Data Downloads>Reports>Download profile info" feature, enabling CSV injection.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Open edX Ironwood 2.5
Vendor: N/A
Version: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a malicious formula within a cohort that, when exported, triggers the CSV injection.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-13146, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the affected feature temporarily if possible.
Monitor for any suspicious activity related to CSV injection.
Educate users on the risks of manipulating formulas in cohorts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Open edX to the latest version to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement input validation mechanisms to prevent CSV injection attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches or updates provided by the Open edX platform to fix the CSV injection vulnerability.