CVE-2020-15864 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Quali CloudShell 9.3 is affected by an XSS vulnerability in the login page that allows attackers to execute malicious payloads.

Understanding CVE-2020-15864

This CVE identifies a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Quali CloudShell 9.3.

What is CVE-2020-15864?

An XSS flaw in the login page of Quali CloudShell 9.3 enables attackers to create a URL containing specific content that triggers a payload execution when a user accesses the /Account/Login page.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15864

This vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code, steal sensitive information, or perform other unauthorized actions on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15864

Quali CloudShell 9.3's XSS vulnerability has the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

The XSS flaw in the login page allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the system, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Quali CloudShell 9.3
Vendor: Quali
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the username field with a specific substring, leading to the execution of malicious payloads when the /Account/Login page is visited.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-15864, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement input validation mechanisms to sanitize user inputs and prevent script injections.
Regularly monitor and analyze web traffic for suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
Educate users about safe browsing practices and the risks associated with clicking on unknown links.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Quali to fix the XSS vulnerability in CloudShell 9.3.