CVE-2018-13863: Vulnerability in bson package
Summary
CVE-2018-13863: js-bson vulnerable to REDoS. Affects bson versions >= 0.5.0, < 1.0.5. Fixed in 1.0.5. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- node-mongodb · Debian:11
The same CVE-2018-13863 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
The bson package is a JavaScript module used by MongoDB for handling BSON (Binary JSON) data. It provides functions for parsing and manipulating BSON objects. The vulnerability affects versions 0.5.0 to 1.0.x before 1.0.5 of the bson package. The specific vulnerability lies in the lib/bson/decimal128.js file, where the Decimal128.fromString() function is susceptible to a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) attack. This vulnerability can be exploited by passing a long untrusted string to the function.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the bson package allows an attacker to trigger a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) attack by exploiting the Decimal128.fromString() function. When this function is called with a long untrusted string, it can lead to excessive CPU usage and cause a denial of service. The impact of this vulnerability can be severe, as it can result in the unavailability of the affected system or service. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 7.3.3 as of 22 Oct 2026
npm install bson@7.3.3Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
1.0.5
This is the first release that contains the fix.
npm install bson@1.0.5Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is essential to update the bson package to the fixed version as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The bson package is vulnerable to a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) attack in the Decimal128.fromString() function. This vulnerability can be fixed by updating the package to version 1.0.5 or later. It is recommended to apply the fix as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of a denial of service. For further support on vulnerability remediation, contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for bson →
FAQ
The bson package is a JavaScript module used by MongoDB for handling BSON (Binary JSON) data. It provides functions for parsing and manipulating BSON objects.
The vulnerability is a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) in the Decimal128.fromString() function of the bson package. It can be exploited by passing a long untrusted string to the function.
The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service by causing excessive CPU usage. It can result in the unavailability of the affected system or service.
To fix the vulnerability, update the bson package to version 1.0.5 or later by running the command: npm install bson@1.0.5
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is crucial to update the bson package to the fixed version.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for bson.
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