CVE-2020-15251
ACL bypass vulnerability in Channelmgnt plugin for Sopel
- CVSS 6.5
- CWE-862 Missing Authorization
- Authentication, Authorization, and Session Management
- Remote
In the Channelmgnt plug-in for Sopel (a Python IRC bot) before version 1.0.3, malicious users are able to op/voice and take over a channel. This is an ACL bypass vulnerability. This plugin is bundled with MirahezeBot-Plugins with versions from 9.0.0 and less than 9.0.2 affected. Version 9.0.2 includes 1.0.3 of channelmgnt, and thus is safe from this vulnerability. See referenced GHSA-23pc-4339-95vg.
- CVSS base score
- 6.5
- Published
- 2020-10-13
- OWASP
- A01 Broken Access Control
- Orthogonal defect classification
- Function
- Code defect classification
- Incorrect Functionality
- Category
- Authentication, Authorization, and Session Management
- Subcategory
- Insecure Authentication Mechanisms
- Accessibility scope
- Remote
- Impact
- Privilege Escalation
- Fixed by upgrading
- Yes
Solution
Update to Sopel Channelmgnt plugin version 1.0.3 or higher.
Vulnerable code sample
# VULNERABILITY DEMONSTRATION
# Description: ACL bypass vulnerability in Channelmgnt plugin for Sopel...
# This code demonstrates the security vulnerability
import os
import sys
def vulnerable_function():
"""Demonstrates the vulnerability with comprehensive example"""
try:
# Original vulnerable implementation:
def op_user(user, channel):
channel.op(user)
def voice_user(user, channel):
channel.voice(user)
# Additional vulnerable patterns that demonstrate the issue:
user_input = input("Enter data: ") # Dangerous: no validation
# Multiple security issues present:
# 1. No input sanitization
# 2. No bounds checking
# 3. No error handling
# 4. Information disclosure possible
if user_input:
# Unsafe processing without validation
processed = str(user_input) * 100 # Can cause DoS
result = processed.upper().lower() # Inefficient processing
# Potential information leakage
return {
"result": result,
"length": len(result),
"input_type": type(user_input).__name__,
"system_info": os.name # Information disclosure
}
return {"error": "No input provided"}
except Exception as e:
# Vulnerable error handling - information leakage
return {
"error": f"Processing failed: {e}",
"input": str(user_input) if 'user_input' in locals() else None,
"traceback": str(e.__traceback__) # Information disclosure
}
def additional_vulnerable_example():
"""Additional example showing the vulnerability"""
# This function demonstrates why the vulnerability is dangerous
data = []
# Vulnerable loop without bounds
for i in range(1000000): # Can cause DoS
data.append(f"item_{i}") # Memory exhaustion possible
return len(data)
# Example of how this vulnerability could be exploited:
# 1. Provide malicious input to cause DoS
# 2. Extract system information through error messages
# 3. Cause memory exhaustion through unbounded operations
# 4. Information disclosure through verbose error handlingPatched code sample
# SECURE IMPLEMENTATION
# Description: ACL bypass vulnerability in Channelmgnt plugin for Sopel...
# This code demonstrates the secure fix for the vulnerability
import os
import sys
import re
import logging
from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Union
class SecureProcessor:
"""Secure implementation with comprehensive protection measures"""
def __init__(self, max_input_size: int = 10000, max_processing_time: int = 30):
self.max_input_size = max_input_size
self.max_processing_time = max_processing_time
# Setup secure logging
logging.basicConfig(level=logging.WARNING)
self.logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
def secure_function(self, user_input: Any = None) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
"""Secure implementation with comprehensive validation"""
try:
# Input validation layer 1: Existence check
if user_input is None:
raise ValueError("Input is required")
# Input validation layer 2: Type checking
if not isinstance(user_input, (str, int, float)):
raise ValueError("Invalid input type")
# Input validation layer 3: Size limits
input_str = str(user_input)
if len(input_str) > self.max_input_size:
raise ValueError("Input too large")
# Input validation layer 4: Content sanitization
sanitized_input = self._sanitize_input(input_str)
# Secure processing with bounds checking
processed = self._process_safely(sanitized_input)
# Output validation
if not self._validate_output(processed):
raise ValueError("Output validation failed")
# Return secure result (no sensitive information)
return {
"result": processed,
"status": "success",
"length": len(processed) if processed else 0
}
except ValueError as e:
# Secure error handling - no information leakage
self.logger.warning(f"Input validation failed: {type(e).__name__}")
return {
"result": None,
"status": "error",
"message": "Invalid input provided"
}
except Exception as e:
# Generic error handling - minimal information
self.logger.error(f"Processing error: {type(e).__name__}")
return {
"result": None,
"status": "error",
"message": "Processing failed"
}
def _sanitize_input(self, input_str: str) -> str:
"""Sanitize input to prevent injection attacks"""
# Remove potentially dangerous characters
sanitized = re.sub(r'[<>&"\']', '', input_str)
# Remove control characters
sanitized = re.sub(r'[\x00-\x1f\x7f-\x9f]', '', sanitized)
# Normalize whitespace
sanitized = re.sub(r'\s+', ' ', sanitized).strip()
# Length limit after sanitization
return sanitized[:1000]
def _process_safely(self, input_data: str) -> str:
"""Process data safely with bounds checking"""
if not input_data:
return ""
# Safe processing with limits
# Instead of multiplying by 100, use safe operations
processed = input_data.upper()
# Limit processing operations
if len(processed) > 5000:
processed = processed[:5000]
return processed
def _validate_output(self, output: Any) -> bool:
"""Validate output for security"""
if output is None:
return True
if isinstance(output, str):
# Check output size
if len(output) > 50000:
return False
# Check for suspicious content
if any(char in output for char in '<>&"\''):
return False
return True
def secure_additional_processing(self) -> Dict[str, int]:
"""Secure additional processing with resource limits"""
try:
# Original patched implementation:
def is_user_authorized(user, channel):
authorized_users = get_authorized_users(channel)
return user in authorized_users
def op_user(user, channel):
if is_user_authorized(user, channel):
channel.op(user)
else:
raise PermissionError("User is not authorized to op in this channel.")
def voice_user(user, channel):
if is_user_authorized(user, channel):
channel.voice(user)
else:
raise PermissionError("User is not authorized to voice in this channel.")
# Enhanced secure processing:
data = []
max_items = 1000 # Reasonable limit
# Bounded loop with resource monitoring
for i in range(min(max_items, 1000)):
# Check if we should continue
if len(data) >= max_items:
break
# Safe item creation
item = f"secure_item_{i}"
data.append(item)
# Memory usage check (simplified)
if sys.getsizeof(data) > 1024 * 1024: # 1MB limit
break
return {
"items_created": len(data),
"memory_safe": True,
"bounded_execution": True
}
except Exception as e:
self.logger.error(f"Secure processing error: {type(e).__name__}")
return {
"items_created": 0,
"memory_safe": True,
"error": "Processing failed safely"
}
# Secure usage examples:
processor = SecureProcessor(max_input_size=5000)
# Safe input processing
result1 = processor.secure_function("safe input data")
result2 = processor.secure_function(12345)
# Safe additional processing
additional_result = processor.secure_additional_processing()
# Security features implemented:
# 1. Comprehensive input validation
# 2. Size and resource limits
# 3. Content sanitization
# 4. Secure error handling (no information leakage)
# 5. Output validation
# 6. Bounded operations (no DoS)
# 7. Memory usage monitoring
# 8. Secure logging for monitoringCite this entry
@misc{vaitp:cve202015251,
title = {{ACL bypass vulnerability in Channelmgnt plugin for Sopel}},
author = {Bogaerts, Fr\'ed\'eric and Ivaki, Naghmeh and Fonseca, Jos\'e},
year = {2020},
note = {VAITP Python Vulnerability Dataset, entry CVE-2020-15251},
howpublished = {\url{https://netpack.pt/vaitp/vulnerability/CVE-2020-15251/}}
}
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