CVE-2020-2205: Vncrecorder Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vqp8-h53h-3jfh
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CVSS 4.8
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-2205 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.8) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Vncrecorder libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves stored xss vulnerability in jenkins vncrecorder plugin. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.35.

CVE-2020-2205 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-2205
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vqp8-h53h-3jfh
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.8
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Vncrecorder
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-2205

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Vncrecorder dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.jenkins-ci.plugins:vncrecorder fixed: 1.35 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>vncrecorder</artifactId>
    <version>1.35</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-2205, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Vncrecorder in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.35), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Vncrecorder, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

VncRecorder Plugin 1.25 and earlier does not escape a tool path in the `checkVncServ` form validation endpoint accessed e.g. via job configuration forms. This results in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exploitable by Jenkins administrators. VncRecorder Plugin 1.35 escapes the tool path.

CVE-2020-2205 Affected Vncrecorder Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.35
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.plugins:vncrecorder
maven/org.jenkins-ci.plugins/vncrecorder
Maven
< 1.35
1.35

References

NVD — CVE-2020-2205 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-2205
Vncrecorder Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/jenkinsci/vncrecorder-plugin
Vncrecorder Security Information SECURITY
https://jenkins.io/security/advisory/2020-07-02/#SECURITY-1728%20(1)
Vncrecorder Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/07/02/7

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-2205?
CVE-2020-2205 is a security vulnerability in Vncrecorder involving Stored XSS vulnerability in Jenkins VncRecorder Plugin under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Vncrecorder versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.35 across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.plugins:vncrecorder.
What version fixes CVE-2020-2205?
Upgrading to 1.35 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is vncrecorder affected?
Yes, org.jenkins-ci.plugins:vncrecorder is affected in releases prior to 1.35. Upgrade your dependency to 1.35 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-2205?
CVE-2020-2205 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-2205?
CVE-2020-2205 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-2205?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-vqp8-h53h-3jfh",
  "modified" : "2022-12-29T00:27:18Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:22:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-2205" ],
  "summary" : "Stored XSS vulnerability in Jenkins VncRecorder Plugin",
  "details" : "VncRecorder Plugin 1.25 and earlier does not escape a tool path in the `checkVncServ` form validation endpoint accessed e.g. via job configuration forms.\n\nThis results in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exploitable by Jenkins administrators.\n\nVncRecorder Plugin 1.35 escapes the tool path.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.plugins:vncrecorder"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.35"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 1.25"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-2205"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/vncrecorder-plugin"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jenkins.io/security/advisory/2020-07-02/#SECURITY-1728%20(1)"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/07/02/7"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-12-29T00:27:18Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-07-02T15:15:00Z"
  }
}