CVE-2020-5222 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Opencast before 7.6 and 8.1 allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to servers using remember-me tokens due to a hard-coded key vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2020-5222

Opencast versions prior to 7.6 and 8.1 are affected by a security issue that enables attackers to exploit remember-me tokens.

What is CVE-2020-5222?

Opencast versions before 7.6 and 8.1 create remember-me cookies using a hash derived from the username, password, and a system key. This flaw allows attackers with access to a remember-me token from one server to gain entry to all servers using the same credentials without requiring the actual login details.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5222

The vulnerability poses a high risk to confidentiality as attackers can potentially access sensitive information without proper authentication.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5222

Opencast's hard-coded key vulnerability in remember-me tokens has the following technical aspects:

Vulnerability Description

Opencast versions < 7.6 and >= 8.0, < 8.1 are susceptible to unauthorized access via remember-me tokens.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Opencast
Vendor: Opencast
Versions: < 7.6, >= 8.0, < 8.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Confidentiality Impact: High
User Interaction: Required

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-5222, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Opencast to version 7.6 or 8.1, where the issue is resolved.
Monitor for any unauthorized access attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement multi-factor authentication to enhance login security.
Regularly review and update access control policies.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.