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CVE-2020-5260 : What You Need to Know

Git versions prior to 2.17.4 and between 2.18.0 to 2.26.1 are vulnerable to CVE-2020-5260, allowing attackers to expose private credentials to unauthorized servers. Learn about the impact, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps.

Git versions prior to 2.17.4 and between 2.18.0 to 2.26.1 are vulnerable to a critical issue where private credentials can be exposed to malicious servers.

Understanding CVE-2020-5260

This CVE highlights a vulnerability in Git that allows attackers to trick the system into sending sensitive credentials to unauthorized hosts.

What is CVE-2020-5260?

        Git versions are susceptible to a security flaw that enables the leakage of private credentials to unauthorized servers.
        Specially crafted URLs can manipulate the credential helper protocol, leading to the disclosure of passwords intended for one server to another.
        The vulnerability can be exploited by feeding a malicious URL to git clone, potentially affecting systems using Git submodules or package systems.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5260

        CVSS Base Score: 9.3 (Critical)
        Attack Vector: Network
        Confidentiality Impact: High
        Integrity Impact: High
        User Interaction: Required
        Scope: Changed
        Privileges Required: None
        Attack Complexity: Low
        Availability Impact: None

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5260

Git's vulnerability lies in how it handles credential storage and retrieval, allowing for unauthorized access to private information.

Vulnerability Description

        Git can be manipulated into sending private credentials to unauthorized hosts due to a flaw in the credential helper protocol.

Affected Systems and Versions

        Versions affected: < 2.17.4, >= 2.18.0, < 2.18.3, >= 2.19.0, < 2.19.4, and so on up to 2.26.1.

Exploitation Mechanism

        Crafted URLs with encoded newlines can inject unintended values into the credential helper protocol stream, leading to credential leakage.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-5260, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

        Update Git to the patched versions: 2.17.4, 2.18.3, 2.19.4, 2.20.3, 2.21.2, 2.22.3, 2.23.2, 2.24.2, 2.25.3, 2.26.1.
        Avoid clicking on suspicious URLs or cloning repositories from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

        Regularly update Git to the latest versions to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.
        Educate users on safe URL handling and the risks associated with unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

        Apply the necessary patches provided by Git to mitigate the vulnerability and enhance system security.

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