CVE-2020-15250 : What You Need to Know

In JUnit4 versions prior to 4.13.1, a vulnerability in the TemporaryFolder test rule can lead to local information disclosure. This CVE affects users who write sensitive data in JUnit tests executed in environments with untrusted users. The vulnerability allows other users to access this data, impacting confidentiality.

Understanding CVE-2020-15250

This CVE highlights a security flaw in JUnit4 versions before 4.13.1 that can expose sensitive information to unauthorized users.

What is CVE-2020-15250?

In JUnit4 versions prior to 4.13.1, the TemporaryFolder test rule vulnerability can disclose sensitive data written by JUnit tests to other users on the system.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15250

Confidentiality Impact: High
Base Score: 4.4 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Local
User Interaction: Required
Attack Complexity: High
Privileges Required: Low
Scope: Unchanged
Integrity Impact: None
Availability Impact: None

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15250

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in JUnit4's TemporaryFolder test rule allows local users to access sensitive information written by JUnit tests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: JUnit4
Vendor: junit-team
Versions Affected: < 4.13.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from the shared nature of the system's temporary directory on Unix-like systems, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade JUnit4 to version 4.13.1 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
For Java 1.6 and lower users without a patch, set the

java.io.tmpdir

system environment variable to an exclusively owned directory.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software components to the latest versions to address security vulnerabilities.
Implement access controls and encryption mechanisms to protect sensitive data.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the GitHub Security Advisory for detailed information on the vulnerability and patch.