CVE-2020-15169 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

In Action View before versions 5.2.4.4 and 6.0.3.3, a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in Action View's translation helpers, potentially allowing XSS attacks.

Understanding CVE-2020-15169

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in Action View that could lead to XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2020-15169?

CVE-2020-15169 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Action View's translation helpers, affecting versions 5.2.4.4 and 6.0.3.3 of the software.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15169

The vulnerability could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's session, leading to potential data theft or manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15169

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in Action View's translation helpers allows HTML-unsafe strings to be incorrectly marked as HTML-safe, making them susceptible to XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: actionview
Vendor: rails
Versions Affected:
< 5.2.4.4

= 6.0.0.0, < 6.0.3.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: HIGH
Attack Vector: NETWORK
Privileges Required: NONE
User Interaction: NONE
Scope: CHANGED
Confidentiality Impact: LOW
Integrity Impact: LOW
Availability Impact: NONE

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-15169 with the following measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to patched versions 5.2.4.4 or 6.0.3.3.
Implement the workaround suggested in the source advisory.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions.
Sanitize user inputs to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly.