CVE-2020-26708 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2020-26708 involves an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) vulnerability in requests-xml v0.2.3, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code.

Understanding CVE-2020-26708

What is CVE-2020-26708?

CVE-2020-26708 is a security vulnerability found in requests-xml v0.2.3 that enables attackers to execute malicious code through a specially crafted XML file.

The Impact of CVE-2020-26708

This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized code execution, posing a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-26708

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in requests-xml v0.2.3 allows for XML External Entity Injection (XXE), enabling threat actors to manipulate XML input to access local or remote content.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Versions: All versions of requests-xml v0.2.3 are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious XML file that, when processed by requests-xml v0.2.3, triggers the execution of arbitrary code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable XML external entity processing in the application configuration.
Implement input validation to sanitize XML inputs.
Update requests-xml to a patched version that addresses the XXE vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update dependencies to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches or updates provided by the requests-xml project to remediate the XXE vulnerability.