Prototype Pollution Vulnerability in Node-INI Package
Summary
DEBIAN-CVE-2020-7788: This affects the package ini before 1.3.6. Affects node-ini versions < 2.0.0-1. Fixed in 2.0.0-1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Node-INI is a popular Node.js package used for parsing INI files, which are simple text files used for configuration. The package allows developers to easily read and write INI files in their applications. However, prior to version 1.3.6, Node-INI was vulnerable to a prototype pollution issue, which could allow attackers to manipulate the application's prototype chain, potentially leading to severe security implications.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the way Node-INI handles malicious INI files. When an attacker submits a crafted INI file to an application using the ini.parse method, it can lead to prototype pollution. This means that the attacker can modify the prototype of built-in objects, which can be exploited further depending on the application's context. This could lead to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or even remote code execution in severe cases.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2.0.0-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade node-iniTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If you cannot immediately update the package, consider sanitizing the input INI files to prevent malicious content from being processed. Implementing strict validation checks on the data before parsing can help mitigate the risk.
Conclusion
The Node-INI package has a known prototype pollution vulnerability that can be exploited through malicious INI files. It is crucial to update to the patched version to safeguard your applications. Additionally, implementing input validation can serve as a temporary measure until the update is applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for node-ini →
FAQ
Prototype pollution is a security vulnerability that allows an attacker to modify the prototype of an object, potentially leading to unexpected behavior in applications.
You can use tools like Vulert to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Check your application's manifest file with Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner.
Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access, data manipulation, and in severe cases, remote code execution.
Yes, you can implement input validation and sanitization to prevent malicious INI files from being processed.
Detailed information can be found in the CVE report for DEBIAN-CVE-2020-7788 and on various security advisory websites.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for node-ini.
