CVE-2020-15839 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2020-15839, a vulnerability in Liferay Portal and DXP versions allowing denial-of-service attacks by uploading large files. Find mitigation steps and necessary patches.
Liferay Portal before 7.3.3, and Liferay DXP 7.1 before fix pack 18 and 7.2 before fix pack 6, does not restrict the size of a multipart/form-data POST action, allowing remote authenticated users to conduct denial-of-service attacks by uploading large files.
Understanding CVE-2020-15839
This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP versions that could be exploited by authenticated remote users for denial-of-service attacks.
What is CVE-2020-15839?
CVE-2020-15839 is a security vulnerability in Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP versions that lack proper restrictions on the size of multipart/form-data POST actions, enabling authenticated remote users to perform denial-of-service attacks by uploading excessively large files.
The Impact of CVE-2020-15839
The vulnerability allows authenticated remote users to exploit the system by uploading large files, leading to denial-of-service attacks that can disrupt the normal functioning of the affected systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-15839
This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from the lack of size restrictions on multipart/form-data POST actions in Liferay Portal versions before 7.3.3 and Liferay DXP 7.1 before fix pack 18 and 7.2 before fix pack 6.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Liferay Portal versions before 7.3.3
- Liferay DXP 7.1 before fix pack 18
- Liferay DXP 7.2 before fix pack 6
Exploitation Mechanism
Authenticated remote users can exploit this vulnerability by uploading large files via multipart/form-data POST actions, causing denial-of-service attacks.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protect your systems from CVE-2020-15839 with these mitigation strategies.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the necessary patches provided by Liferay to fix the size restriction issue.
- Monitor and restrict the size of file uploads to prevent abuse.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch your Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP installations.
- Implement network-level protections to mitigate denial-of-service attacks.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of the following fixes:
- Liferay Portal 7.3.3 or newer
- Liferay DXP 7.1 fix pack 18 or newer
- Liferay DXP 7.2 fix pack 6 or newer