CVE-2020-21524

There is a XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in halo v1.1.3, The function of importing other blogs in the background(/api/admin/migrations/wordpress)…

published September 30, 2020

CVSS
—
EPSS
2%
Percentile
74.2
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ An overlooked XML setting could lead to a data buffet for attackers! This XXE vulnerability in Halo v1.1.3 allows unauthorized access to sensitive files. 🔥 Think of this like a restaurant ordering a meal without confirming what's in it. If the kitchen mistakenly uses spoiled ingredients, it could endanger everyone — just like how this flaw could let attackers access your internal files without a second thought. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to read files on the server, potentially leaking sensitive data or even launching denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. The implications could be absolutely devastating for your infrastructure, allowing unauthorized access to your internal network.

Put simply

Think of this like a restaurant ordering a meal without confirming what's in it. If the kitchen mistakenly uses spoiled ingredients, it could endanger everyone — just like how this flaw could let attackers access your internal files without a second thought. This XXE vulnerability occurs because the XML parser does not adequately defend against external entities when importing blog data. By sending a crafted XML file, attackers can manipulate the parsing process to access restricted files or services.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to read files on the server, potentially leaking sensitive data or even launching denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. The implications could be absolutely devastating for your infrastructure, allowing unauthorized access to your internal network. To mitigate this risk, immediately upgrade to Halo version 1.1.4 or later, where this vulnerability is patched. Additionally, ensure that your XML parser is configured to disable external entity loading during parsing. Reviewing your overall XML handling practices is a smart move! You've got this! With these steps, you can lock down your system and keep those attackers at bay! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01510 · 74.2th percentile
Published
2020-09-30T14:34Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 30 SEP 14:34Z
    There is a XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in halo v1.1.3, The function of importing other blogs in the background(/api/admin/migrations/wordpress)…
    cvelistv5