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CVE Record

CVE-2019-20798: An XSS issue was discovered in handler_server_info.c in Cherokee through 1.2.104.

An XSS issue was discovered in handler_server_info.c in Cherokee through 1.2.104. The requested URL is improperly displayed on the About page in the default configuration of the web server and its administrator panel. The XSS in the administrator panel can be used to reconfigure the server and execute arbitrary commands.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2019-20798 is a cross-site scripting flaw in Cherokee web server through 1.2.104. A crafted URL can be displayed unsafely on the About page. If the administrator panel is affected and an admin views the content, the issue can lead to server reconfiguration and arbitrary command execution.

Executive priority

Prioritize if Cherokee is present, internet-facing, or used with an exposed admin panel. Business risk is highest where admin sessions could be targeted, because impact may extend beyond web-page script execution to server control.

Technical view

The issue is in handler_server_info.c. The requested URL is not safely rendered on Cherokee's default About page and administrator panel. The strongest impact depends on administrator-panel exposure and an authenticated administrator viewing attacker-controlled content. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, or a named fixed version.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in environments still running Cherokee through 1.2.104, especially where the administrator panel or default About page is reachable by untrusted users.

Exploitation context

The CVE source says the admin-panel XSS can be used to reconfigure the server and execute arbitrary commands. KEV is false, and the bundle does not cite active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports an XSS in Cherokee's server-info handler and higher impact in the administrator panel. Public metadata is incomplete: severity, CVSS, CWE, affected CPEs, and fixed-version details are absent from the supplied bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify Cherokee instances and versions across internet-facing and internal assets.
  • Restrict administrator-panel access to trusted networks and authenticated administrators only.
  • Review Cherokee and distribution vendor guidance, including Gentoo GLSA-202012-09.
  • Apply available vendor or distribution updates when confirmed for your platform.
  • Monitor Cherokee configuration changes and administrator-panel access for suspicious activity.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any deployed Cherokee version is 1.2.104 or earlier.
  • Verify whether the Cherokee administrator panel is exposed beyond trusted networks.
  • Check whether the default About page is enabled and publicly reachable.
  • Review web and admin logs for unusual server-info or About-page requests.
  • Confirm remediation status against vendor or distribution advisory records.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2019-20798 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.