CVE-2020-37178 Overview
KeePass Password Safe versions before 2.44 contain a denial of service vulnerability in the help system's HTML handling. Attackers can trigger the vulnerability by dragging and dropping malicious HTML files into the help area, potentially causing application instability or crash. This vulnerability is classified as CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code), indicating potential code injection through improperly handled HTML content.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation can cause KeePass Password Safe to become unstable or crash, potentially disrupting access to stored credentials and affecting user productivity.
Affected Products
- KeePass Password Safe versions before 2.44
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-11 - CVE CVE-2020-37178 published to NVD
- 2026-02-12 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2020-37178
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability exists within the help system component of KeePass Password Safe. The application fails to properly validate and sanitize HTML content when users drag and drop files into the help area. When a specially crafted HTML file is introduced through this drag-and-drop mechanism, the improper handling of the HTML content can trigger a denial of service condition.
The local attack vector requires user interaction—specifically, the victim must drag and drop a malicious HTML file into the help system interface. While this limits the attack surface compared to network-exploitable vulnerabilities, social engineering tactics could be employed to convince users to interact with malicious files.
Root Cause
The root cause stems from inadequate input validation in the HTML rendering component of the help system. When processing HTML files introduced via drag-and-drop operations, the application does not properly sanitize or validate the content before attempting to render it. This allows malformed or malicious HTML structures to be processed, leading to improper code generation handling that can destabilize the application.
Attack Vector
The attack requires local access and user interaction. An attacker must convince a victim to drag and drop a malicious HTML file into the KeePass help system. This could be accomplished through social engineering, such as disguising the malicious file as legitimate help documentation or instructing users to "update" their help files. Once the malicious HTML is dropped into the help area, the vulnerability is triggered, causing the application to become unstable or crash.
The vulnerability mechanism involves improper handling of HTML content in the help system's rendering engine. For detailed technical analysis and proof-of-concept information, refer to the Exploit-DB #47952 entry and the VulnCheck Advisory for KeePass.
Detection Methods for CVE-2020-37178
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected KeePass application crashes or freezes when accessing the help system
- Presence of unusual or untrusted HTML files in the KeePass installation directory
- User reports of being instructed to drag files into the KeePass help area
- Application event logs showing repeated KeePass crashes with help system components
Detection Strategies
- Monitor file system activity for HTML files being written to or accessed from KeePass-related directories
- Implement endpoint detection rules to alert on KeePass process crashes following file drag-and-drop operations
- Configure application whitelisting to restrict unauthorized file interactions with KeePass
- Deploy behavioral analysis to detect anomalous user interactions with password management applications
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Windows Event Log monitoring for application crashes involving KeePass.exe
- Implement file integrity monitoring on KeePass installation directories
- Monitor for social engineering attempts that instruct users to interact with KeePass help system
- Review endpoint telemetry for unusual drag-and-drop operations targeting password management applications
How to Mitigate CVE-2020-37178
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade KeePass Password Safe to version 2.44 or later immediately
- Educate users to avoid dragging and dropping external files into the KeePass application
- Implement application control policies to prevent interaction with untrusted HTML files
- Review security awareness training to include risks of social engineering targeting password managers
Patch Information
The vulnerability has been addressed in KeePass Password Safe version 2.44. Users should upgrade to this version or later to remediate the vulnerability. The official KeePass website at KeePass Official Website provides the latest secure version for download. Organizations should prioritize this update for all systems running vulnerable versions of KeePass.
Workarounds
- Restrict user ability to drag and drop files into applications through Group Policy or endpoint protection settings
- Implement network segmentation to limit access to potentially malicious files
- Deploy application sandboxing to isolate KeePass from untrusted file interactions
- Train users to only obtain help documentation from official KeePass sources
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
