CVE-2020-5225: Log injection in SimpleSAMLphp

Published Jan 24, 2020
·
Updated

Log injection in SimpleSAMLphp before version 1.18.4. The www/erroreport.php script, which receives error reports and sends them via email to the system administrator, did not properly sanitize the report identifier obtained from the request. This allows an attacker, under specific circumstances, to inject new log lines by manually crafting this report ID. When configured to use the file logging handler, SimpleSAMLphp will output all its logs by appending each log line to a given file. Since the reportID parameter received in a request sent to www/errorreport.php was not properly sanitized, it was possible to inject newline characters into it, effectively allowing a malicious user to inject new log lines with arbitrary content.

Affected Software

1 affected component
SimpleSAMLphp<1.18.4

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade SimpleSAMLphp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.18.4
  2. Compensating control

    If using the file logging handler in SimpleSAMLphp, ensure attackers cannot influence errorreport.php inputs to prevent newline log-line injection (file logging appends each log line to a given file).

Event History

Jan 24, 2020
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:55 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:55 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·09:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2020-5225?

The severity of CVE-2020-5225 is medium with a CVSS score of 5.4.

2

How does CVE-2020-5225 affect SimpleSAMLphp?

CVE-2020-5225 affects SimpleSAMLphp versions up to 1.18.4.

3

What is log injection?

Log injection is a vulnerability where an attacker can inject malicious data into log files to manipulate or disrupt the logging process.

4

What is the impact of CVE-2020-5225?

The impact of CVE-2020-5225 allows an attacker, under specific circumstances, to inject arbitrary log entries and potentially escalate their privileges.

5

How can I fix CVE-2020-5225?

To fix CVE-2020-5225, update SimpleSAMLphp to version 1.18.4 or later.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203