CVE-2020-4071

What it is

In django-basic-auth-ip-whitelist before 0.3.4, a potential timing attack exists on websites where the basic authentication is used or configured, i.e. BASIC_AUTH_LOGIN and BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD is set. Currently the string comparison between configured credentials and the ones provided by users is performed through a character-by-character string comparison. This enables a possibility that attacker may time the time it takes the server to validate different usernames and password, and use this knowledge to work out the valid credentials. This attack is understood not to be realistic over the Internet. However, it may be achieved from within local networks where the website is hosted, e.g. from inside a data centre where a website's server is located. Sites protected by IP address whitelisting only are unaffected by this vulnerability. This vulnerability has been fixed on version 0.3.4 of django-basic-auth-ip-whitelist. Update to version 0.3.4 as soon as possible and change basic authentication username and password configured on a Django project using this package. A workaround without upgrading to version 0.3.4 is to stop using basic authentication and use the IP whitelisting component only. It can be achieved by not setting BASIC_AUTH_LOGIN and BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD in Django project settings.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited with physical access without logging in. Limited direct impact.

Exploit odds

0.4% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2020-06-24 13:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 03:19 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.4% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 2.2 LOW (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2020-06-24 13:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 03:19 UTC

Exploit probability

0.4% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-208

Record status

Modified

Affected

• django-basic-auth-ip-whitelist Project django-basic-auth-ip-whitelist < 0.3.4

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 2.2

Attack vector

Physical

Complexity

High

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Changed

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

None

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2020-4071.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2020-4071. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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