PhantomJS Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability in phantomjs
Summary
CVE-2019-17221: PhantomJS Arbitrary File Read. Affects phantomjs versions < 2.1.1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- phantomjs · Debian:10
The same CVE-2019-17221 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
PhantomJS is an open-source headless web browser that allows users to automate web page interaction, perform web scraping, and generate screenshots or PDFs of web pages. It provides a JavaScript API for controlling various browser functionalities. However, PhantomJS versions up to 2.1.1 are affected by an arbitrary file read vulnerability.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability exists in the page.open() function of the webpage module in PhantomJS. This function is responsible for loading a specified URL and calling a given callback. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by supplying a specially crafted HTML file as user input. By leveraging this vulnerability, an attacker can read arbitrary files on the filesystem. For example, if the page.render() function is used as the callback, it can generate a PDF or an image of the targeted file. This vulnerability poses a significant risk as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive files and can lead to information disclosure.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a workaround, it is advised to implement input validation and sanitization for user-supplied URLs. Additionally, it is crucial to restrict access to sensitive files and directories by implementing proper file permissions and access controls. Regularly monitoring and auditing file access logs can also help detect any unauthorized attempts to read files.
Conclusion
PhantomJS versions up to 2.1.1 are affected by an arbitrary file read vulnerability, which allows unauthorized access to sensitive files on the filesystem. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade to a non-affected version of PhantomJS or consider migrating to other actively maintained headless browser solutions. Regular monitoring and auditing of file access logs can also help detect any unauthorized attempts to read files. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
PhantomJS is an open-source headless web browser that allows users to automate web page interaction, perform web scraping, and generate screenshots or PDFs of web pages.
This vulnerability allows an attacker to read arbitrary files on the filesystem, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information.
To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade to a version of PhantomJS that is not affected by this issue. However, considering that PhantomJS is no longer actively developed, it is advisable to migrate to other actively maintained headless browser solutions.
As a workaround, it is advised to implement input validation and sanitization for user-supplied URLs. Additionally, proper file permissions and access controls should be implemented to restrict access to sensitive files and directories.
Yes, there are alternative headless browser solutions available that are actively maintained and regularly updated with security patches. Consider exploring these alternatives as a replacement for PhantomJS.
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