CVE-2020-13697: XXS in NanoHTTPD
Summary
CVE-2020-13697: NanoHTTPD Cross-site Scripting vulnerability. Affects org.nanohttpd:nanohttpd-nanolets versions < 2.3.1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
NanoHTTPD is a lightweight HTTP server library for Java applications. It provides a simple way to embed a web server into an application. The vulnerability affects versions up to 2.3.1 of the NanoHTTPD library. This library includes the GeneralHandler class, which implements a basic GET handler that prints debug information as an HTML page. If a web server extends this class without implementing its own GET handler, it becomes vulnerable to reflected cross-site scripting (XXS) attacks. This occurs because the GeneralHandler GET handler prints user input passed through the query string without any sanitization.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in NanoHTTPD allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into the HTML page generated by the GeneralHandler GET handler. This can lead to the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially compromising sensitive information or performing unauthorized actions. The vulnerability has a moderate severity rating and is classified under CWE-79 (Cross-Site Scripting).
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
If upgrading to a fixed version of NanoHTTPD is not immediately possible, a temporary workaround is to implement a custom GET handler that properly sanitizes user input before including it in the HTML response. This can be done by using a library or framework that provides built-in protection against XXS attacks, such as OWASP Java Encoder. By encoding user input before displaying it in the HTML response, the risk of XXS vulnerabilities can be mitigated.
Conclusion
The XXS vulnerability in NanoHTTPD can be mitigated by upgrading to a fixed version of the library or by implementing proper input sanitization in custom GET handlers. It is important for developers to stay up-to-date with security patches and follow best practices to protect their applications from potential vulnerabilities. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
NanoHTTPD is a lightweight HTTP server library for Java applications. It allows developers to embed a web server into their applications.
Reflected cross-site scripting (XXS) is a type of vulnerability that allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into a website or web application. These scripts are then executed in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to the compromise of sensitive information or unauthorized actions.
The vulnerability in NanoHTTPD allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into the HTML page generated by the GeneralHandler GET handler. This can lead to the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially compromising sensitive information or performing unauthorized actions.
The vulnerability has a moderate severity rating.
To fix the vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade to a version of NanoHTTPD that is not affected by the issue. Developers should update their project's dependencies to use a version of NanoHTTPD that is equal to or greater than 2.3.2.
