CVE-2020-28991 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Gitea 0.9.99 through 1.12.x before 1.12.6 allows a security vulnerability due to improper handling of git protocol paths.

Understanding CVE-2020-28991

This CVE involves a specific vulnerability in Gitea versions prior to 1.12.6 that could be exploited by attackers.

What is CVE-2020-28991?

Gitea versions 0.9.99 through 1.12.x before 1.12.6 are susceptible to a security issue that arises from inadequate validation of git protocol paths.

The Impact of CVE-2020-28991

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as low, with no availability or integrity impact, and low confidentiality impact.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-28991

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from Gitea's failure to prevent git protocol paths that include TCP port numbers and newlines in ParseRemoteAddr in modules/auth/repo_form.go.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Gitea
Vendor: N/A
Versions: 0.9.99 through 1.12.x before 1.12.6

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious git protocol paths containing TCP port numbers and newlines, potentially leading to security breaches.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-28991 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Gitea to version 1.12.6 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual git protocol path activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Gitea and other software to the latest versions.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent malicious traffic.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely patching of Gitea installations to address known vulnerabilities.