CVE-2020-5231: Opencast kernel Users With ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN Can Create Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2020-5231 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.8) users with role_course_admin can create vulnerability (CWE-285: Improper Authorization) affecting Opencast kernel libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves users with role_course_admin can create new users in opencast. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 7.6, 8.1.
CVE-2020-5231 at a Glance
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).
How to Fix CVE-2020-5231
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Opencast kernel dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
<dependency>
<groupId>org.opencastproject</groupId>
<artifactId>opencast-kernel</artifactId>
<version>7.6</version>
</dependency><dependency>
<groupId>org.opencastproject</groupId>
<artifactId>opencast-kernel</artifactId>
<version>8.1</version>
</dependency>Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.opencastprojectHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-5231, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.opencastprojectAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Opencast kernel in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 7.6), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.opencastproject 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-285: Improper Authorization, where the product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. In Opencast kernel, 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
CVE-2020-5231 Affected Opencast kernel Versions
2 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.opencastproject:opencast-kernel
|
Maven |
< 7.6
|
7.6
|
|
org.opencastproject:opencast-kernel
|
Maven |
≥ 8.0
< 8.1
|
8.1
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2020-5231?
Which Opencast kernel versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2020-5231?
Is opencast-kernel affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-5231?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-5231?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-5231?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-94qw-r73x-j7hg",
"modified" : "2021-10-20T18:03:31Z",
"published" : "2020-01-30T21:21:37Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-5231" ],
"summary" : "Users with ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN can create new users in Opencast",
"details" : "### Impact\n\nUsers with the role `ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN` can use the user-utils endpoint to create new users not including the role `ROLE_ADMIN`. For example:\n\n```bash\n# Use the admin to create a new user with ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN using the admin user.\n# We expect this to work.\n% curl -i -u admin:opencast 'https://example.opencast.org/user-utils/xy.json' -X PUT \\\n --data 'password=f&roles=%5B%22ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN%22%5D'\nHTTP/2 201\n\n# Use the new user to create more new users.\n# We don't expüect a user with just role ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN to succeed.\n# But it does work\n% curl -i -u xy:f 'https://example.opencast.org/user-utils/ab.json' -X PUT \\\n --data 'password=f&roles=%5B%22ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN%22%5D'\nHTTP/2 201\n```\n`ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN` is a non-standard role in Opencast which is referenced neither in the documentation nor in any code (except for tests) but only in the security configuration. From the name – implying an admin for a specific course – users would never expect that this role allows user creation.\n\n### Patches\n\nThis issue is fixed in 7.6 and 8.1 which both ship a new default security configuration.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nYou can fix this issue by removing all instances of `ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN` in your organization's security configuration (`etc/security/mh_default_org.xml` by default).\n\n### For more information\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n\n- Open an issue in [opencast/opencast](https://github.com/opencast/opencast/issues)\n- For security-relevant information, email us at security@opencast.org",
"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.opencastproject:opencast-kernel"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "7.6"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.opencastproject:opencast-kernel"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "8.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "8.1"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/opencast/opencast/security/advisories/GHSA-94qw-r73x-j7hg"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5231"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/opencast/opencast/commit/72fad0031d8a82c860e2bde0b27570c5042320ee"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-285" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2020-01-30T21:11:19Z",
"nvd_published_at" : null
}
}