CVE-2020-26290: Critical security issues in XML encoding in github.com/dexidp/dex
Summary
CVE-2020-26290: Critical security issues in XML encoding in github.com/dexidp/dex. Affects github.com/dexidp/dex versions < 2.27.0. Fixed in 2.27.0. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package github.com/dexidp/dex is a Go package that provides an OpenID Connect Identity (OIDC) and OAuth 2.0 Provider with Pluggable Connectors. It is commonly used for authentication and authorization purposes in various applications. However, this package is vulnerable to critical security issues related to XML encoding.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability includes multiple security issues that impact users leveraging the SAML connector in the dex package. One of the vulnerabilities is a Signature Validation Bypass (CVE-2020-15216) in the goxmldsig package, which is used by dex. This vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass signature validation in SAML responses, potentially leading to unauthorized access or other security breaches.
Additionally, the encoding/xml package used in dex has instabilities that can be exploited:
- Element namespace prefix instability (CVE-2020-29511)
- Attribute namespace prefix instability (CVE-2020-29509)
- Directive comment instability (CVE-2020-29510)
These instabilities can result in unexpected behavior or parsing errors when processing XML data, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.
How To Fix
Latest published version: v2.13.0+incompatible as of 23 Oct 2026
go get github.com/dexidp/dex@v2.13.0+incompatibleUpgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
2.27.0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
go get github.com/dexidp/dex@v2.27.0Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There are no known workarounds for these vulnerabilities. It is essential to update to the patched version to mitigate the risks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the github.com/dexidp/dex package is vulnerable to critical security issues related to XML encoding. To mitigate these vulnerabilities, it is crucial to update to Dex v2.27.0, which includes the necessary patches. Failure to address these vulnerabilities can result in unauthorized access, data leakage, or other security breaches. For further support and assistance in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for github.com/dexidp/dex →
FAQ
The impact of these vulnerabilities can vary depending on the specific use case and configuration. However, they can potentially lead to unauthorized access, data leakage, or other security breaches.
No, only versions prior to v2.27.0 are affected. It is crucial to update to the latest version to address the vulnerabilities.
At the time of this advisory, there are no known public exploits for these vulnerabilities. However, it is always recommended to apply security patches promptly to mitigate potential risks.
Manually fixing the vulnerabilities without updating the package is not recommended. The patches included in Dex v2.27.0 address the specific vulnerabilities and ensure the proper security measures are in place.
You can find more information about these vulnerabilities, including the technical details and the CVE identifiers, in the provided links and the advisory database sources.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for github.com/dexidp/dex.
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