CVE-2020-36290 : What You Need to Know

Confluence Server and Data Center versions before 7.4.5, from 7.5.0 to 7.6.3, and from 7.7.0 to 7.7.4 are affected by a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Livesearch macro.

Understanding CVE-2020-36290

This CVE identifies a security issue in Atlassian's Confluence Server and Data Center that allows remote attackers to execute XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2020-36290?

The Livesearch macro in Confluence Server and Data Center versions prior to 7.4.5, between 7.5.0 and 7.6.3, and between 7.7.0 and 7.7.4 permits attackers with editing permissions to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript via a XSS vulnerability in the page excerpt feature.

The Impact of CVE-2020-36290

This vulnerability could enable malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected Confluence instance, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or further attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-36290

Confluence Server and Data Center are susceptible to XSS attacks due to inadequate input validation in the Livesearch macro.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows attackers with page or blog editing rights to insert harmful HTML or JavaScript code through the XSS vulnerability in the page excerpt functionality.

Affected Systems and Versions

Confluence Server versions before 7.4.5
Confluence Server versions from 7.5.0 to 7.6.3
Confluence Server versions from 7.7.0 to 7.7.4
Confluence Data Center versions before 7.4.5
Confluence Data Center versions from 7.5.0 to 7.6.3
Confluence Data Center versions from 7.7.0 to 7.7.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with permission to edit a page or blog can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious HTML or JavaScript code through the Livesearch macro.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-36290, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Confluence Server and Data Center to versions 7.4.5, 7.6.3, or 7.7.4 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unauthorized changes or suspicious activities on Confluence instances.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations and access controls in Confluence.
Educate users on secure coding practices and the risks of XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Atlassian promptly to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.