Regular Expression Denial of Service in node-debug
Summary
CVE-2017-16137: The debug module is vulnerable to regular expression denial of service when untrusted user input is passed into the o formatter. Affects node-debug across 2 version ranges.
< 3.1.0-1
>= c61ae82bde19c6fdedfc6684817ff7eb541ff029, < 13abeae468fea297d0dccc50bc55590809241083
Fixed in 3.1.0-1. How to fix ↓
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Background
node-debug is a package in the Debian ecosystem that provides debugging utilities for Node.js applications. It allows developers to log debug information during runtime for troubleshooting purposes. However, the package is vulnerable to a regular expression denial of service (ReDoS) attack when untrusted user input is passed into the 'o' formatter. This can result in a significant performance degradation, causing the application to block for up to 2 seconds when processing around 50,000 characters. While this vulnerability is considered low severity, it is still important to address to ensure the stability and responsiveness of the application.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in node-debug arises from a lack of input validation and sanitization when using the 'o' formatter. By providing specially crafted input, an attacker can trigger a ReDoS attack, causing the application to consume excessive CPU resources and potentially impacting the availability of the system. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it a potential target for malicious actors. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.3, indicating a moderate severity level.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
3.1.0-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade node-debugTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If updating the package is not immediately feasible, a temporary workaround can be implemented by disabling the usage of the 'o' formatter in the debug module. This can be achieved by modifying the code to avoid using the 'o' formatter or by removing the vulnerable code section altogether. However, it is crucial to note that this workaround may impact the functionality of the application, and updating to the fixed version is still the recommended solution.
Conclusion
Regular Expression Denial of Service in node-debug is a low severity vulnerability that can lead to performance degradation and potential denial of service. It is crucial to update the node-debug package to version 3.1.0-1 or higher to mitigate this vulnerability. If immediate update is not possible, disabling the usage of the 'o' formatter can serve as a temporary workaround. For further assistance and support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for node-debug →
FAQ
Node-debug is a debugging utility for Node.js applications that allows developers to log debug information during runtime for troubleshooting purposes.
A ReDoS attack is a type of denial of service attack that exploits the inefficient handling of certain regular expressions. By providing specially crafted input, an attacker can cause the regular expression matching algorithm to enter into an exponential time complexity, leading to a significant performance degradation and potential denial of service.
The vulnerability in node-debug can result in a significant performance degradation, causing the application to block for up to 2 seconds when processing around 50,000 characters. While this may not have severe consequences on its own, it can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt the availability of the system or as part of a larger attack chain.
To update the node-debug package, you can use your package manager (e.g., apt, npm) and execute the appropriate command to fetch the latest version from the official repository. For example, with npm, you can run 'npm update node-debug' to install the latest version.
If updating the package is not immediately feasible, you can implement a temporary workaround by disabling the usage of the 'o' formatter in the debug module. However, it is important to note that this workaround may impact the functionality of the application, and updating to the fixed version is still the recommended solution.
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