CVE-2020-9388 in SquaredUp
Summary
by MITRE • 02/04/2021
CSRF protection was not present in SquaredUp before version 4.6.0. A CSRF attack could have been possible by an administrator executing arbitrary code in a HTML dashboard tile via a crafted HTML page, or by uploading a malicious SVG payload into a dashboard.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9388 represents a critical security flaw in SquaredUp software versions prior to 4.6.0, specifically targeting the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms. This weakness fundamentally undermines the application's ability to validate the authenticity of user requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit administrative privileges. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF token validation, which is a fundamental security control required for web applications handling administrative functions. According to CWE-352, this represents a classic CSRF vulnerability where an attacker can trick authenticated users into executing unintended actions without their knowledge or consent. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its administrators, exploiting the fact that the application does not verify the origin of requests originating from authenticated sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack methods that demonstrate the severity of the missing CSRF protection. First, administrators could be tricked into executing arbitrary code through malicious HTML pages embedded within dashboard tiles, where the crafted HTML would leverage the administrator's authenticated session to perform unauthorized operations. Second, attackers could upload malicious SVG payloads directly into the dashboard environment, taking advantage of the lack of proper input validation and CSRF protection. Both attack vectors rely on the fundamental principle that authenticated sessions are trusted without proper verification of request legitimacy. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and execute commands with the privileges of the targeted administrator, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which describes the execution of malicious code through various attack vectors including web-based payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate the dashboard environment and potentially gain access to sensitive data or system resources. Administrators who interact with dashboard tiles and SVG uploads become potential entry points for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the organization's monitoring infrastructure. The consequences include unauthorized data access, system modification, and potential lateral movement within the network. Organizations using affected versions of SquaredUp face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where dashboard administrators have elevated privileges. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that it affects the core dashboard functionality, which is typically used for monitoring and managing critical infrastructure components. The absence of CSRF protection in this context creates a dangerous scenario where legitimate administrative workflows become attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit trust relationships within the application ecosystem. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of implementing comprehensive CSRF protection mechanisms in web applications, especially those handling privileged administrative functions and user-generated content.