CVE-2020-0700 in Azure DevOps Server
Summary
by MITRE
A Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists when Azure DevOps Server does not properly sanitize user provided input, aka 'Azure DevOps Server Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2025
The CVE-2020-0700 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Azure DevOps Server that stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws where web applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The flaw manifests when the Azure DevOps Server application processes user input without sufficient sanitization, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script payloads that are then rendered by the server without proper validation or encoding. This typically happens in areas where user-generated content is displayed, such as comments, work item descriptions, or other editable fields within the Azure DevOps interface. When legitimate users view pages containing this maliciously injected content, the embedded scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further malicious activities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because Azure DevOps Server is commonly used in enterprise environments where users have elevated privileges and access to sensitive development resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Azure DevOps Server for their software development lifecycle management. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal authentication tokens, access confidential source code repositories, manipulate work items, or gain unauthorized access to development environments. The attack surface is broad since Azure DevOps Server serves as a central hub for development activities, making it an attractive target for adversaries seeking to compromise development workflows. Organizations may experience data breaches, intellectual property theft, and disruption to their development processes, potentially leading to extended recovery periods and reputational damage.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, starting with immediate patching of affected Azure DevOps Server versions as provided by Microsoft security updates. The mitigation strategy should include input validation and output encoding mechanisms that follow secure coding practices and align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations for preventing XSS attacks. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. Regular security assessments and code reviews should focus on input handling routines to identify similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing, as attackers often use XSS to deliver malicious payloads, and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, when exploiting the vulnerability to exfiltrate data. Administrators should also implement proper monitoring and logging to detect suspicious activities related to user input manipulation and script injection attempts.