CVE-2020-9387 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

In Mahara 19.04 before 19.04.5 and 19.10 before 19.10.3, account details are shared in the Elasticsearch results for accounts that are not accessible when the config setting 'Isolated institutions' is turned on.

Understanding CVE-2020-9387

This CVE relates to a vulnerability in Mahara versions 19.04 and 19.10 that exposes account details in Elasticsearch results.

What is CVE-2020-9387?

The vulnerability in Mahara allows account details to be leaked in Elasticsearch results for accounts that should not be accessible under certain configurations.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9387

The exposure of account details can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, compromising user privacy and security.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9387

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Mahara versions 19.04 and 19.10 allows account details to be shared in Elasticsearch results, even for accounts that should be isolated.

Affected Systems and Versions

Mahara versions 19.04 before 19.04.5
Mahara versions 19.10 before 19.10.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue occurs when the 'Isolated institutions' configuration setting is enabled, causing account details to be exposed in Elasticsearch results.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-9387, follow these mitigation steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the 'Isolated institutions' setting in affected Mahara versions.
Monitor Elasticsearch results for any unauthorized access to account details.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Mahara to the latest version to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement access controls and review configurations to prevent data leakage.
Conduct security audits to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Mahara is updated to versions 19.04.5 and 19.10.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.