CVE-2020-24941 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in Laravel before 6.18.35 and 7.x before 7.24.0. The $guarded property is mishandled in some situations involving requests with JSON column nesting expressions.

Understanding CVE-2020-24941

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Laravel versions prior to 6.18.35 and 7.x before 7.24.0, related to mishandling the $guarded property in specific scenarios.

What is CVE-2020-24941?

The vulnerability in Laravel allows for exploitation in situations where requests involve JSON column nesting expressions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-24941

This vulnerability could potentially lead to unauthorized access or manipulation of data within affected Laravel applications.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-24941

The technical aspects of the CVE are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The $guarded property in Laravel is not properly handled in certain cases, particularly with requests containing JSON column nesting expressions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Laravel versions before 6.18.35
Laravel 7.x versions before 7.24.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting requests that involve JSON column nesting expressions, potentially bypassing intended security measures.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-24941, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Laravel to version 6.18.35 or 7.24.0, which contain fixes for this vulnerability.
Review and adjust the usage of the $guarded property in your Laravel application to prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor Laravel security advisories and update your application promptly.
Implement secure coding practices to minimize the risk of similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Laravel to ensure your application is protected against known vulnerabilities.