Cassandra Web 0.5.0 - रिमोट फ़ाइल रीड (Remote File Read)

The primary impact of CVE-2020-36939 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive system files. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could read files like /etc/passwd, potentially gaining access to user account information, including usernames and potentially hashed passwords. More critically, the vulnerability allows access to Apache Cassandra database credentials, granting an attacker complete control over the database. This could lead to data breaches, data manipulation, and complete compromise of the Cassandra cluster. The lack of authentication required for exploitation significantly broadens the attack surface.

Organizations running Cassandra Web version 0.5.0, particularly those with misconfigured deployments where the Rack::Protection module is disabled, are at significant risk. Shared hosting environments where Cassandra Web is deployed alongside other applications are also vulnerable, as an attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to the entire hosting environment.

• ruby / web:

# Check for suspicious file access attempts in Cassandra Web logs
# Look for patterns like '../' or '..\'

• generic web:

# Check for directory listing exposure
curl -I <cassandra_web_url>/..

1. 2026-01-27Disclosure

   disclosure

1. आरक्षित2026-01-25
2. प्रकाशित2026-01-27
3. संशोधित2026-04-07
4. EPSS अद्यतन2026-03-23

The primary mitigation for CVE-2020-36939 is to upgrade to a patched version of Cassandra Web. Unfortunately, a specific patched version is not provided in the CVE details. Until a patched version is available, consider temporarily disabling the Cassandra Web interface entirely to prevent external access. If disabling is not feasible, implement strict input validation on all path traversal parameters within the web application. Additionally, ensure the Rack::Protection module is enabled and properly configured to prevent path traversal attacks. Monitor system logs for suspicious file access attempts.