The jQuery Validation Plugin provides drop-in validation for your existing forms. It is published as an npm package "jquery-validation". jquery-validation before version 1.19.3 contains one or more regular expressions that are vulnerable to ReDoS (Regular Expression Denial of Service). This is fixed in version 1.19.3.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.3, indicating a medium severity level. Organizations using the impacted versions are at risk of denial of service attacks which can lead to service interruptions.
Risk to organizations includes potential downtime and loss of availability, which can impact user experience and operational efficiency. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As of now, there are no known exploits in the wild for this vulnerability. However, it is crucial to apply the patch as soon as possible to mitigate any risks.
Given the nature of this vulnerability and its implications, organizations should address it in their priority patch cycle.
Vulnerability Details
The jQuery Validation Plugin before version 1.19.3 allows attackers to exploit regular expressions leading to a ReDoS attack. The CVE-2021-21252 was published on January 13, 2021, and the vulnerability is classified under CWE-400.
The CVSS score from NVD is 7.5, categorized as high severity, indicating a significant threat to the availability of the service. Organizations utilizing this plugin should upgrade to version 1.19.3 or later.
Technical Analysis
Root cause of this vulnerability is tied to the incorrect handling of regular expressions. The attack vector is network-based, with low complexity, requiring no privileges or user interaction to exploit.
The impact on availability is noted as low, meaning successful exploitation can lead to service degradation, affecting user access to applications relying on this validation plugin.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations that have deployed the jQuery Validation Plugin should assess their exposure to this vulnerability. The risk involves potential downtime and compromised user experience due to denial of service.
The vulnerability’s classification as medium severity suggests that it should be addressed in a timely manner to prevent any negative impact on services.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerable versions of the jQuery Validation Plugin include all versions prior to 1.19.3. Organizations should upgrade to this version or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should immediately update the jQuery Validation Plugin to version 1.19.3 or later. If patching is not feasible, consider implementing web application firewalls or other security measures to monitor and filter potentially malicious traffic.
For detailed guidance on secure coding practices and vulnerability management, organizations may refer to the application security checklist.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring for unusual patterns of requests or resource usage in applications utilizing the jQuery Validation Plugin can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Logging and analyzing traffic can provide insights into potential threats.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The existence of this vulnerability highlights the importance of regular updates and maintenance for third-party libraries. Security teams should prioritize awareness of such vulnerabilities and implement robust monitoring and response strategies.
For further reading on penetration testing methodologies and vulnerability management programs, organizations can refer to the following resources: penetration testing methodology, vulnerability management program design, and security testing best practices.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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