CVE-2020-4038 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about the reflected XSS vulnerability in GraphQL Playground (versions < 1.6.22) with a high severity impact. Find mitigation steps and affected systems in this CVE-2020-4038 article.
GraphQL Playground (graphql-playground-html NPM package) before version 1.6.22 has a severe XSS Reflection attack vulnerability. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for this CVE.
Understanding CVE-2020-4038
GraphQL Playground (graphql-playground-html NPM package) before version 1.6.22 has a severe XSS Reflection attack vulnerability.
What is CVE-2020-4038?
This CVE refers to a reflected XSS vulnerability in GraphQL Playground, specifically in versions prior to 1.6.22. The issue arises from unsanitized user input passed into the renderPlaygroundPage() method, allowing malicious actors to trigger the vulnerability.
The Impact of CVE-2020-4038
The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.4, categorizing it as high severity. It can lead to integrity impact, requiring user interaction to exploit, with a low attack complexity and network-based attack vector.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-4038
GraphQL Playground's vulnerability is detailed below:
Vulnerability Description
- Type: Reflected XSS
- CWE ID: CWE-79
- Description: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: graphql-playground
- Vendor: prisma-labs
- Vulnerable Versions: < 1.6.22
- Associated Middleware Packages Affected:
- graphql-playground-middleware-express before version 1.7.16
- graphql-playground-middleware-koa before version 1.6.15
- graphql-playground-middleware-lambda before version 1.7.17
- graphql-playground-middleware-hapi before 1.6.13
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by injecting malicious scripts through unsanitized user input, leading to a reflected XSS attack.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2020-4038, follow these steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update graphql-playground-html to version 1.6.22 or higher.
- Update associated middleware packages to patched versions.
- Sanitize user input to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update dependencies to the latest secure versions.
- Implement input validation and output encoding to mitigate XSS risks.
Patching and Updates
- Apply security patches promptly.