Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This issue can make KeePass Password Safe unstable or crash when malicious HTML is handled through the help area. It is mainly a business continuity and user disruption risk, not clearly a password theft issue based on the provided sources. Public proof-of-concept material exists, but there is no KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize normal patch management for endpoints using KeePass, especially in environments with many unmanaged user workstations. Treat this as a high-severity stability risk with public PoC availability, but not as confirmed active exploitation or confirmed credential compromise based on the provided evidence.
Technical view
CVE-2020-37178 is described as a denial-of-service flaw in KeePass Password Safe HTML handling in the help system. The bundle lists affected versions as before 2.44, but reference naming mentions “KeePass 2.44,” so confirm version impact with vendor data. The supplied CVSS vector indicates high severity, though it conflicts with the drag-and-drop user-interaction description.
Likely exposure
Organizations are likely exposed where KeePass Password Safe versions older than 2.44 remain installed. Risk is higher on workstations where users open or handle untrusted HTML files. Exposure details are limited because the provided sources do not include a full vendor advisory or deployment-specific prerequisites.
Exploitation context
ExploitDB and VulnCheck reference a public proof of concept. The described trigger involves malicious HTML being dragged into the help area. The CVE is not marked KEV, and the provided sources do not show active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
The source bundle contains inconsistencies: affected versions are listed as before 2.44, while reference titles mention KeePass 2.44. The CVSS vector also suggests network, no user interaction, and confidentiality impact, which does not align cleanly with the described drag-and-drop denial of service. Validate against primary vendor information before final scoping.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory KeePass Password Safe versions across managed endpoints.
- Upgrade affected installations to 2.44 or later, if confirmed by vendor guidance.
- Check KeePass official guidance for current supported versions and advisories.
- Warn users not to drag untrusted HTML files into application help areas.
- Restrict handling of untrusted HTML files where feasible.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed KeePass versions on managed workstations.
- Compare versions against the affected range listed in the CVE bundle.
- Review vendor and VulnCheck pages for updated applicability details.
- Check vulnerability scanners for CVE-2020-37178 coverage.
- Document exceptions where KeePass cannot be updated promptly.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-94: Code execution behavior lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCredential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-37178 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N3.93.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-47952CVE reference · exploit
- KeePass Official HomepageCVE reference · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: KeePass 2.44 - Denial of Service (PoC)CVE reference · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.