CVE-2020-27986 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

SonarQube 8.4.2.36762 allows remote attackers to discover cleartext SMTP, SVN, and GitLab credentials via the api/settings/values URI. The vendor's position for SMTP and SVN is that it is the administrator's responsibility to configure it.

Understanding CVE-2020-27986

This CVE involves a vulnerability in SonarQube 8.4.2.36762 that exposes cleartext credentials.

What is CVE-2020-27986?

CVE-2020-27986 is a security flaw in SonarQube 8.4.2.36762 that enables malicious actors to uncover sensitive credentials through the api/settings/values URI.

The Impact of CVE-2020-27986

The vulnerability allows remote attackers to access cleartext SMTP, SVN, and GitLab credentials, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-27986

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

SonarQube 8.4.2.36762 is susceptible to exposing cleartext credentials, specifically SMTP, SVN, and GitLab, through the api/settings/values URI.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by attackers to retrieve sensitive credentials from the affected SonarQube version.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-27986 requires immediate action and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity related to credential exposure.
Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms.
Consider restricting access to sensitive information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch SonarQube installations to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by SonarQube to remediate the vulnerability and enhance system security.