CVE-2020-8920 : What You Need to Know

An information leak vulnerability exists in Gerrit versions prior to 2.14.22, 2.15.21, 2.16.25, 3.0.15, 3.1.10, 3.2.5 where an overoptimization with the FilteredRepository wrapper skips the verification of access on All-Users repositories, allowing an attacker to get read access to all users' personal information associated with their accounts.

Understanding CVE-2020-8920

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Gerrit that could lead to unauthorized access to users' personal information.

What is CVE-2020-8920?

CVE-2020-8920 is an information leak vulnerability in Gerrit versions before 2.14.22, 2.15.21, 2.16.25, 3.0.15, 3.1.10, and 3.2.5. It results from an overoptimization issue in the FilteredRepository wrapper.

The Impact of CVE-2020-8920

The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass access verification on All-Users repositories, potentially exposing sensitive user data.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-8920

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from an overoptimization in the FilteredRepository wrapper, enabling unauthorized access to personal user information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Gerrit versions prior to 2.14.22, 2.15.21, 2.16.25, 3.0.15, 3.1.10, 3.2.5

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain read access to all users' personal information associated with their accounts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-8920 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Gerrit to versions 2.14.22, 2.15.21, 2.16.25, 3.0.15, 3.1.10, or 3.2.5 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to sensitive user data.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and review access controls within Gerrit.
Educate users on secure practices to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Gerrit to address the vulnerability.