CVE-2020-9708 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2020-9708, also known as GHSL-2020-133, involves insufficient validation of user input in the resolveRepositoryPath function in Adobe's Helix product.

Understanding CVE-2020-9708

What is CVE-2020-9708?

The resolveRepositoryPath function in Helix by Adobe fails to adequately validate user input, allowing a malicious user to access Git repositories outside the designated repoRoot, potentially leading to unauthorized access to private repositories.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9708

This vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 5.9, indicating a medium severity issue with high confidentiality impact. The attack complexity is high, and it can be exploited over a network without requiring privileges or user interaction.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9708

Vulnerability Description

The resolveRepositoryPath function in Helix does not properly validate user input, enabling a malicious actor to traverse to any valid Git repository outside the repoRoot, potentially compromising private repositories.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Helix by Adobe
Vendor: Adobe
Versions Affected: Less than 1.3.1 (unspecified version type)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating user input to access Git repositories outside the intended directory, leading to unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Helix to version 1.3.1 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict user input to prevent traversal to unauthorized repositories.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation mechanisms to ensure user input is sanitized and restricted to authorized directories.
Regularly audit and review access controls to prevent unauthorized repository access.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has likely released patches addressing this vulnerability. Ensure timely installation of updates to secure the system.