# CVE-2020-17551: Cross-site scripting (XSS)

> Cross-site scripting in ImpressCMS admin module allows attackers to execute arbitrary remote code.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Oct 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-j29g-g982-pwpv

## What is CVE-2020-17551?

CVE-2020-17551 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Oct 2020. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

ImpressCMS 1.4.0 is affected by XSS in modules/system/admin.php which may result in arbitrary remote code execution.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-17551?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including impresscms/impresscms. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `impresscms/impresscms` | Packagist | All versions | 1.4.1 |
| `impresscms/impresscms` | Packagist | All versions | 1.4.1 |

Products: Impresscms Impresscms.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-17551?

Upgrade impresscms/impresscms to 1.4.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-17551 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-17551 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2008-3453](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3453/): Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in ImpressCMS 1.0 have unknown impact and attack vectors, related to modules/admin.php and "a few files (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-26599](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26599/): SQL Injection in ImpressCMS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-26600](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26600/): Type Confusion in ImpressCMS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-24977](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24977/): Path Traversal in ImpressCMS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-50912](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-50912/): ImpressCMS 1.4.4 - Unrestricted File Upload (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-17551 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-17551 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Oct 2020. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-17551 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- impresscms/impresscms (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.4.1
- impresscms/impresscms (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.4.1

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-17551/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-17551/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-17551
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-17551
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-17551

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-17551/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.