CVE-2020-8544 in OX App Suite
Summary
by MITRE
OX App Suite through 7.10.3 allows SSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2020-8544 represents a server-side request forgery flaw in OX App Suite versions 7.10.3 and earlier, classified under CWE-918 as an insecure server-side request forgery. This vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of user-supplied input in the application's request handling mechanism, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the application into making unauthorized requests to internal systems. The flaw specifically affects the web application's ability to properly sanitize and validate external resource references, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially gain access to sensitive internal resources. Security researchers identified that the vulnerability stems from improper handling of URLs and resource identifiers within the application's backend processing logic, where user-provided data flows directly into server-side HTTP requests without adequate sanitization or validation checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables attackers to perform reconnaissance activities against internal network services that would normally be protected by firewalls or network segmentation. An attacker could leverage this flaw to probe internal systems, potentially identifying additional vulnerabilities within the organization's infrastructure, or to access sensitive data stored on internal servers. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication for the initial attack vector, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through unauthenticated access points within the application. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1190, this represents a server-side request forgery attack that can be used for initial access and lateral movement within compromised environments. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and availability by potentially allowing unauthorized data access and could lead to more severe consequences if internal systems contain sensitive information or critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-8544 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms throughout the application's request processing pipeline. Organizations should immediately upgrade to OX App Suite version 7.10.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Network-level protections should include implementing strict firewall rules that prevent outbound connections to internal network segments from the application servers, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns. Additionally, organizations should implement proper access controls and privilege separation to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough network scans to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor application logs for unusual outbound requests that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing strict URL validation, employing allowlists for permitted external resources, and ensuring that all user-supplied input undergoes comprehensive sanitization before being processed by server-side components. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing the need for continuous security testing and vulnerability management programs.