CVE-2020-7934 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

In LifeRay Portal CE 7.1.0 through 7.2.1 GA2, the First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name fields for user accounts in MyAccountPortlet are all vulnerable to a persistent XSS issue. Any user can modify these fields with a particular XSS payload, and it will be stored in the database. The payload will then be rendered when a user utilizes the search feature to search for other users (i.e., if a user with modified fields occurs in the search results). This issue was fixed in Liferay Portal CE version 7.3.0 GA1.

Understanding CVE-2020-7934

This CVE identifies a persistent XSS vulnerability in LifeRay Portal CE versions 7.1.0 through 7.2.1 GA2.

What is CVE-2020-7934?

This CVE refers to a security flaw in LifeRay Portal CE that allows users to inject malicious scripts into specific user account fields, leading to potential cross-site scripting attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2020-7934

The vulnerability could enable attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a user's session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-7934

LifeRay Portal CE 7.1.0 through 7.2.1 GA2 is affected by a persistent XSS issue that allows for unauthorized script execution.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name fields of user accounts in MyAccountPortlet, enabling users to store and execute malicious scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

LifeRay Portal CE 7.1.0 through 7.2.1 GA2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can inject XSS payloads into the mentioned fields, which are then stored in the database and executed when other users perform searches.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-7934, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to Liferay Portal CE version 7.3.0 GA1 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor user inputs and sanitize data to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and output encoding to prevent script injection.
Educate users on safe browsing practices and the risks of executing unknown scripts.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by LifeRay to ensure ongoing protection against vulnerabilities.