CVE-2020-5226 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cross-site scripting vulnerability in SimpleSAMLphp versions before 1.18.4 allows injection of HTML via crafted error report emails.

Understanding CVE-2020-5226

This CVE involves a cross-site scripting vulnerability in SimpleSAMLphp, impacting versions prior to 1.18.4.

What is CVE-2020-5226?

This vulnerability allows attackers to inject HTML code into error report emails, potentially leading to malicious actions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5226

The vulnerability's medium severity rating stems from the potential for attackers to manipulate email templates, risking data integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5226

Details of the vulnerability and its implications.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the lack of proper escaping in the email template, enabling HTML injection through crafted error report contents.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: SimpleSAMLphp
Vendor: simplesamlphp
Versions Affected: >= 1.18.0, < 1.18.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: High
Attack Vector: Network
User Interaction: Required
Privileges Required: Low
Scope: Changed
CVSS Base Score: 4.4 (Medium)

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2020-5226 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade SimpleSAMLphp to version 1.18.4 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor email templates for any unauthorized changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from SimpleSAMLphp.
Apply patches promptly to address any identified vulnerabilities.