CVE-2020-25476 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Liferay CMS Portal versions 7.1.3 and 7.2.1 contain a blind persistent cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious payloads into user profiles, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2020-25476

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in Liferay CMS Portal versions 7.1.3 and 7.2.1 that enables attackers to execute cross-site scripting attacks through the user name parameter in the Calendar feature.

What is CVE-2020-25476?

The vulnerability in Liferay CMS Portal versions 7.1.3 and 7.2.1 allows attackers to insert malicious payloads into specific user profile fields, leading to the injection and reflection of these payloads in the calendar of the affected user. This exploit could result in privilege escalation if an admin interacts with the compromised calendar.

The Impact of CVE-2020-25476

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it enables attackers to manipulate user profiles and potentially gain unauthorized access or privileges within the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-25476

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The blind persistent cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Liferay CMS Portal versions 7.1.3 and 7.2.1 allows for the injection of malicious payloads into user profiles, specifically in the username, lastname, or surname fields.

Affected Systems and Versions

Liferay CMS Portal version 7.1.3
Liferay CMS Portal version 7.2.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by inserting malicious payloads into their own profile fields, which are then reflected in the calendar of the user who submitted the payload. If an admin interacts with the compromised calendar, privilege escalation can occur.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-25476 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Liferay CMS Portal to the latest patched version to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor user profiles and calendar activities for any suspicious behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation mechanisms to prevent XSS attacks.
Educate users on safe profile management practices to avoid malicious injections.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches released by Liferay to address known vulnerabilities like CVE-2020-25476.