# CVE-2020-5298: Reflected XSS when importing CSV in OctoberCMS

> Attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in victim browsers via malicious CSV imports in OctoberCMS, requiring user interaction.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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:** 3 Jun 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gg6x-xx78-448c

## What is CVE-2020-5298?

CVE-2020-5298 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Octobercms October, published on 3 Jun 2020. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In OctoberCMS (october/october composer package) versions from 1.0.319 and before 1.0.466, a user with the ability to use the import functionality of the `ImportExportController` behavior can be socially engineered by an attacker to upload a maliciously crafted CSV file which could result in a reflected XSS attack on the user in question Issue has been patched in Build 466 (v1.0.466).

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), CWE-87 (Improper Neutralization of Alternate XSS Syntax)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-5298?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `october/backend` | Packagist | From 1.0.319 | 1.0.466 |
| `october/backend` | Packagist | From 1.0.319 | 1.0.466 |

Products: Octobercms October.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-5298?

Upgrade october/backend to 1.0.466 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-5298 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-5298 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Octobercms October

- [CVE-2021-32648](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32648/): October CMS Improper Authentication (high 8.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-3311](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3311/): October CMS Session ID not invalidated after logout (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000194](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000194/): October CMS File Upload Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000196/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000197](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000197/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-5298 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-5298 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Octobercms October, published on 3 Jun 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-2020-5298 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- october/backend (Packagist): affected from 1.0.319; fixed in 1.0.466
- october/backend (Packagist): affected from 1.0.319; fixed in 1.0.466

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-2020-5298/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5298/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-5298
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5298
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-5298

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5298/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.