CVE-2020-5677 in GROWI
Summary
by MITRE • 12/03/2020
Reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability in GROWI v4.0.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary script via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2020
The reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-5677 affects GROWI versions 4.0.0 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected user sessions. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as reflected XSS where malicious input is immediately returned to users without proper sanitization or encoding. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-provided input that is subsequently rendered in web responses, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the GROWI application framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs or form inputs that contain script payloads, which are then reflected back to the user through the application's response. When unsuspecting users click on these crafted links or interact with malicious content, the injected scripts execute in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple input points within the application may be vulnerable, including but not limited to URL parameters, form fields, or API endpoints that process user input without adequate sanitization measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attack chains within the targeted environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through session manipulation, harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions, or deploy additional attack tools such as keyloggers or browser-based exploit frameworks. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack payload must be crafted specifically for each victim, making it particularly challenging to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the GROWI application and the data it manages, potentially exposing sensitive documentation, user credentials, and organizational information.
Organizations utilizing affected GROWI versions should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls, with the most effective approach being the upgrade to patched versions of the application. The mitigation strategy should incorporate proper HTML escaping and sanitization of all user inputs before rendering them in web responses, aligning with OWASP Top Ten recommendations for XSS prevention. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not be considered a substitute for proper application-level fixes. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive input validation testing to identify all potential entry points that may be susceptible to similar vulnerabilities, as this flaw may indicate broader issues with the application's security architecture. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing secure coding practices and regular security assessments to prevent such critical flaws from persisting in production environments, particularly in collaborative platforms where user-generated content is prevalent.