CVE-2020-14456 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in Mattermost Desktop App before 4.4.0. The Same Origin Policy is mishandled during access-control decisions for web APIs, aka MMSA-2020-0006.

Understanding CVE-2020-14456

This CVE identifies a security vulnerability in the Mattermost Desktop App that could lead to access-control issues for web APIs.

What is CVE-2020-14456?

The vulnerability in Mattermost Desktop App before version 4.4.0 allows mishandling of the Same Origin Policy during access-control decisions for web APIs, potentially exposing sensitive data.

The Impact of CVE-2020-14456

This vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to bypass access controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of data.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-14456

The technical aspects of this CVE are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

Mattermost Desktop App before 4.4.0 mishandles the Same Origin Policy during access-control decisions for web APIs.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Mattermost Desktop App
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to manipulate access-control decisions for web APIs, potentially leading to unauthorized data access.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-14456, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Mattermost Desktop App to version 4.4.0 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict access control policies to limit exposure to sensitive data.
Regularly educate users on security best practices to prevent social engineering attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Mattermost to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2020-14456.