Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious or attacker-controlled scan target could store script content in Metasploit Pro scan asset notes. When an operator later opens that host record, the script runs in the Metasploit Pro interface. Rapid7 fixed this in version 4.17.1-20200514.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for security teams using Metasploit Pro against untrusted environments. The issue is not marked as actively exploited, but it targets a privileged security tool interface and has high confidentiality and integrity impact in CVSS.
Technical view
CVE-2020-7355 is a stored XSS issue in Rapid7 Metasploit Pro's discovered asset notes field. It affects version 4.17.1-20200427 and earlier. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.1, with high confidentiality and integrity impact, user interaction required, and no availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Metasploit Pro deployments at or before 4.17.1-20200427, especially when scanning untrusted or attacker-controlled services. Updated deployments at 4.17.1-20200514 or later are documented as fixed.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Exploitation requires a crafted scan target and an operator viewing the affected scanned host record in the Metasploit Pro console.
Researcher notes
The primary evidence supports stored XSS in the scan asset notes field. The referenced research may discuss broader impact, but the provided bundle only substantiates the affected field, trigger condition, affected versions, and fixed version. Avoid assuming active exploitation without additional evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Metasploit Pro to version 4.17.1-20200514 or later.
- Review Rapid7 release notes for any additional vendor guidance.
- Restrict Metasploit Pro console access to trusted operators.
- Limit scanning of untrusted targets until affected instances are updated.
- Treat scan results from unknown targets as potentially hostile content.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Metasploit Pro installations and record exact build versions.
- Confirm no deployment is running 4.17.1-20200427 or earlier.
- Review change records for upgrade to 4.17.1-20200514 or later.
- Check operator access controls for the Metasploit Pro console.
- Confirm scan workflows involving untrusted targets have documented handling procedures.
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-2020-7355 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.