CVE-2020-37178 in Password Safe
Summary
by MITRE • 02/11/2026
KeePass Password Safe versions before 2.44 contain a denial of service vulnerability in the help system's HTML handling. Attackers can trigger the vulnerability by dragging and dropping malicious HTML files into the help area, potentially causing application instability or crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-37178 affects KeePass Password Safe versions prior to 2.44, specifically targeting the application's help system HTML handling functionality. This denial of service weakness represents a significant security concern for users who rely on KeePass for critical password management tasks. The vulnerability exists within the software's interactive help system where users can drag and drop HTML files to view documentation or help content. The flaw allows attackers to exploit this functionality by crafting malicious HTML files that, when processed by the help system, trigger application instability or complete crashes. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the HTML rendering engine used by KeePass's help component, creating a path for malicious code execution that manifests as system instability rather than direct code injection. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-400, which specifically addresses the weakness of unchecked resource consumption, and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages user interaction through drag and drop functionality, making it difficult to prevent through traditional network-based security measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign user interface features can become attack surfaces when proper input validation is absent. When a malicious HTML file is dropped into the help system area, the application processes the file without adequate sanitization of potentially dangerous elements such as script tags, embedded objects, or malformed HTML structures. This processing can cause the help system's HTML renderer to consume excessive system resources or encounter parsing errors that lead to application termination. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond the standard drag and drop operation, making it an effective vector for social engineering attacks where users might be tricked into opening malicious help files. The application's failure to implement proper resource limits or HTML sanitization during the help file processing phase creates an environment where malformed or malicious content can cause the application to become unresponsive or crash entirely. The impact extends beyond simple application instability as users may lose access to their password databases during critical operations, potentially leading to productivity losses and increased security risks when users are forced to restart applications or recover from crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-37178 extends significantly beyond immediate application crashes and represents a broader threat to password management security workflows. Organizations using KeePass for enterprise password management may experience service disruptions when attackers exploit this vulnerability through phishing campaigns or malicious file sharing, potentially compromising the availability of critical password resources. The vulnerability creates a persistent risk for users who frequently access help documentation, as any malicious HTML file could trigger the exploit regardless of the user's security awareness level. This denial of service condition can be particularly problematic during security audits or compliance checks when password managers are essential tools for maintaining secure access controls. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no specialized knowledge beyond basic HTML creation, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal technical expertise. From a security operations perspective, this vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper security controls around file handling operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation, as the denial of service can potentially be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should implement monitoring for unusual drag and drop activities within help system areas and establish clear policies for handling external documentation files.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-37178 center around immediate software updates to KeePass version 2.44 or later, which contains patches specifically addressing the HTML handling vulnerability in the help system. System administrators should prioritize patch management to ensure all KeePass installations are updated, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple users may be accessing password databases simultaneously. Users should be educated about the risks of opening unknown HTML files in the help system and trained to avoid drag and drop operations with untrusted content. Security configurations should include disabling or restricting help system functionality for users who do not require it, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Network-level controls can be implemented to prevent the automatic execution of HTML content within help system areas, while endpoint security solutions should monitor for suspicious file handling activities. Organizations should establish procedures for validating all help content before deployment and consider implementing sandboxing techniques for processing external HTML files. The vulnerability's resolution through version 2.44 demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and highlights how vulnerabilities can remain undetected for extended periods. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar issues in other applications with HTML rendering capabilities, as this pattern of vulnerability is not unique to KeePass. The incident underscores the need for comprehensive security testing that includes user interaction points such as drag and drop functionality, which often receive insufficient attention during security reviews. Proper implementation of input validation, resource limiting, and HTML sanitization within help systems can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other software applications.