CVE-2020-26547 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Monal before 4.9 allows a remote attacker to inject arbitrary messages into the local history, manipulating sender and receiver details.

Understanding CVE-2020-26547

What is CVE-2020-26547?

Monal before version 4.9 lacks proper sender verification on MAM and Message Carbon (XEP-0280) results, enabling a remote attacker to insert unauthorized messages into the victim's local history.

The Impact of CVE-2020-26547

This vulnerability permits the attacker, who can send stanzas to a victim, to control the displayed sender and receiver information, potentially leading to misinformation or unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-26547

Vulnerability Description

Monal before 4.9 lacks adequate sender verification on MAM and Message Carbon results, allowing unauthorized message injection.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

A remote attacker can send stanzas to a victim, injecting arbitrary messages into the victim's local history.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Monal to version 4.9 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor communication channels for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement end-to-end encryption to secure communications.
Regularly update software and apply security patches.
Educate users on safe communication practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and apply patches promptly to prevent exploitation.