Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2020-7354 is a stored cross-site scripting flaw in Rapid7 Metasploit Pro. A malicious or compromised scan target can place script content into a discovered asset host field, which then runs when an operator views that host in the console. The issue is fixed in Metasploit Pro 4.17.1-20200514.
Executive priority
Handle as a moderate-priority security tooling issue. It affects an internal offensive-security platform, so successful exploitation could compromise sensitive operator sessions or data. Upgrade promptly, especially where Metasploit Pro scans untrusted networks, but the supplied evidence does not support emergency active-exploitation status.
Technical view
Metasploit Pro 4.17.1-20200427 and prior versions fail to safely handle the host field for discovered scan assets. The vulnerability is CWE-79 stored XSS with CVSS 3.1 score 6.1. Exploitation requires a crafted network service on a scanned target and user interaction from a Metasploit Pro operator.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to organizations running Rapid7 Metasploit Pro 4.17.1-20200427 or earlier, especially where operators scan untrusted, hostile, or internet-facing assets. The vulnerable component is the Metasploit Pro web console view for discovered scan assets, not Metasploit Framework generally.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Public research exists, including discussion of XSS-to-RCE implications, but the CVE record describes stored XSS triggered by viewing a scanned host record. Treat this as credible but not confirmed exploited in the wild from the supplied evidence.
Researcher notes
Key constraints are high privileges and required operator interaction. The vulnerable data path is scan discovery data stored in the asset host field and rendered in the Pro interface. CVE-2020-7355 is related but concerns generated notes, so keep validation scoped to this host-field issue.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Metasploit Pro to 4.17.1-20200514 or a later fixed release.
- Review Rapid7 release notes and vendor guidance for any additional remediation details.
- Restrict Metasploit Pro console access to trusted operators only.
- Prioritize upgrades for instances used to scan untrusted or attacker-controlled networks.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Metasploit Pro instances and record exact build versions.
- Confirm no production instance runs 4.17.1-20200427 or earlier.
- Review scanning workflows for exposure to untrusted or hostile targets.
- Check whether operators have viewed discovered host records from suspicious scan targets.
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
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-7354 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N0.95.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://help.rapid7.com/metasploit/release-notes/archive/2020/05/#20200514CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://avalz.it/research/metasploit-pro-xss-to-rce/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
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.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.