CVE-2019-10758 represents a critical vulnerability found in mongo-express versions prior to 0.54.0. This vulnerability allows attackers to leverage endpoints that utilize the `toBSON` method, leading to remote code execution through a misuse of the `vm` dependency to perform `exec` commands in an unsafe environment. Given the severity of the vulnerability, with a CVSS score of 9.9, organizations using mongo-express should take immediate action to patch their systems.
The risk to organizations includes exposure to unauthorized access and potential data manipulation or loss. The attack vector being network-based, combined with a low attack complexity and low privileges required, makes it easier for adversaries to exploit this vulnerability. With no user interaction needed, the urgency for defenders to address this issue is critical.
This vulnerability has been analyzed and is included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating that it is actively exploited in the wild. Organizations must prioritize patching immediately.
In conclusion, the implications of CVE-2019-10758 extend beyond just the immediate risks. Organizations must consider the potential for significant operational impact if this vulnerability is not mitigated swiftly.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of this vulnerability states that mongo-express before 0.54.0 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via endpoints that uses the `toBSON` method. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-94, which pertains to code injection vulnerabilities.
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 9.9, indicating a critical severity level. It has a network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges required (PR:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are classified as high.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of the `vm` dependency, which allows execution of commands in a non-secure environment. Attackers may leverage this through network access to send crafted requests to vulnerable endpoints.
The attack complexity is low, meaning that an attacker does not require extensive resources or sophistication to exploit this vulnerability. The privileges required to exploit this vulnerability are also low, which further amplifies the risk. No user interaction is required, allowing automated exploitation.
This vulnerability has potential impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of the server environment.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is significant, particularly for organizations that depend on mongo-express for application management. The potential for unauthorized access and data manipulation raises the stakes considerably.
The blast radius of this vulnerability could extend to any system running susceptible versions of mongo-express, indicating that the urgency for remediation is paramount. Given the KEV status, organizations must prioritize addressing this vulnerability in their patch cycles.
The CVSS score of 9.9 suggests that organizations should treat this vulnerability with high urgency, as the potential impact on operations could be severe.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects mongo-express versions prior to 0.54.0. Organizations using affected versions must upgrade to the latest version to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply updates as per vendor instructions. For those unable to upgrade immediately, consider implementing network controls to limit exposure and monitoring recommendations to detect unusual activities.
For a comprehensive assessment of your security posture, organizations may consider utilizing penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
Monitor logs for indicators of exploitation attempts, such as unusual network requests to endpoints using the `toBSON` method. Behavioral anomalies in application performance or unauthorized command executions should also be flagged.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2019-10758 highlights the necessity for continuous monitoring and regular software updates as part of a robust security strategy. This vulnerability represents a worrying trend of increasing reliance on untrusted code execution in web applications.
Organizations should learn from this incident to reinforce their application security posture. For further insights, consider reviewing our penetration testing methodology and explore our vulnerability management program design best practices to strengthen defenses.
Additionally, our insights on web application penetration testing can provide further guidance on securing your applications against such vulnerabilities.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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