CVE-2020-28502 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2020-28502 article provides insights into a vulnerability affecting the 'xmlhttprequest' and 'xmlhttprequest-ssl' packages, potentially leading to arbitrary code injection.

Understanding CVE-2020-28502

This CVE involves the packages 'xmlhttprequest' and 'xmlhttprequest-ssl' and their susceptibility to arbitrary code injection.

What is CVE-2020-28502?

CVE-2020-28502 is a vulnerability that impacts the 'xmlhttprequest' package before version 1.7.0 and all versions of the 'xmlhttprequest-ssl' package. It allows malicious users to inject and execute arbitrary code by manipulating user input.

The Impact of CVE-2020-28502

The vulnerability has a high severity level with a CVSS base score of 8.1. It can lead to arbitrary code execution, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-28502

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises when requests are sent synchronously with 'async=False' on 'xhr.open,' enabling malicious input to be injected into 'xhr.send,' potentially executing arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Package 'xmlhttprequest' versions before 1.7.0
All versions of package 'xmlhttprequest-ssl'

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to inject arbitrary code by manipulating user input, exploiting the synchronous request handling.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-28502 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update 'xmlhttprequest' to version 1.7.0 or higher
Monitor and sanitize user inputs to prevent code injection

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to validate and sanitize inputs
Regularly update packages and dependencies to patch vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Apply official fixes and updates provided by the package maintainers to address the vulnerability effectively.