CVE-2020-28845 in Netskope
Summary
by MITRE • 11/21/2020
A CSV injection vulnerability in the Admin portal for Netskope 75.0 allows an unauthenticated user to inject malicious payload in admin's portal thus leads to compromise admin's system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2020
The CVE-2020-28845 vulnerability represents a critical CSV injection flaw within the Netskope Admin portal version 75.0, exposing organizations to significant security risks through unauthorized code execution. This vulnerability specifically targets the data export functionality that allows administrators to download configuration data, user information, and system logs in comma-separated values format. The flaw enables an unauthenticated attacker to craft malicious CSV files containing embedded formulas or scripts that can execute when opened by an administrator, creating a persistent threat vector for lateral movement and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Netskope Admin portal's CSV export mechanism. When administrators download data containing user-supplied information, the system fails to properly escape or sanitize special characters that could be interpreted as spreadsheet formulas by applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious payloads such as formula-based exploits that can trigger automatic execution when the CSV file is opened, potentially leading to remote code execution, credential theft, or system infiltration. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1236, which specifically addresses the improper neutralization of special elements used in CSV files, and represents a variant of the broader CSV injection attack pattern that has been documented across multiple enterprise applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-28845 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with a sophisticated method for gaining administrative access to critical network infrastructure. Once an administrator opens a malicious CSV file, the injected payloads can execute in the context of the administrator's privileged session, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive configuration data, or deploy additional malware. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Netskope for cloud security management, as it creates a direct attack path from unauthenticated access to privileged system compromise. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrators frequently download and analyze system data, making the exploitation process relatively straightforward and highly effective.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to the Netskope Admin portal through network segmentation, implementing strict firewall rules to limit access to administrative interfaces, and disabling CSV export functionality until vendor patches are applied. Security teams should also establish monitoring for unusual download patterns from administrative accounts and implement user education programs to prevent administrators from opening untrusted CSV files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of applying security patches promptly and maintaining robust input validation controls throughout application development lifecycle processes. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, email filtering for suspicious attachments, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing and the importance of following established security frameworks like NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards for preventing injection-based attacks in enterprise environments.