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CVE-2022-25883: Medium Vulnerability in npmjs semver

A medium-severity Regular Expression Denial of Service vulnerability affects versions of the semver package prior to 7.5.2. Immediate action is recommended to mitigate potential risks associated with this vulnerability.

MEDIUMCVSS 5.3 · Published June 21, 2023

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This vulnerability allows versions of the package semver before 7.5.2 to be exploited through a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) when untrusted user data is provided as a range. The vulnerability was disclosed on June 21, 2023, and has been analyzed to understand its impact on organizations.

With a CVSS score of 5.3, classified as medium severity, this vulnerability poses a risk to availability, as it can lead to Denial of Service conditions. Organizations using affected versions of semver should be aware of the potential for service disruption resulting from this vulnerability.

Risk to organizations includes the potential for downtime if an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability. Given the nature of the attack vector being network-based and the low complexity of execution, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.

Currently, there are no known exploits available, and the vulnerability has not been included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, it remains important to address this issue proactively.

Organizations should schedule remediation to update to version 7.5.2 or later of the semver package to mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25883 affects versions of the semver package prior to 7.5.2. The primary vector for the attack is through the function new Range, where malicious actors can supply untrusted user data as a range, leading to ReDoS conditions.

The vulnerability has been assessed with a CVSS score of 5.3, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based, requiring no privileges or user interaction, making it easier for attackers to exploit.

The affected product is the semver package, specifically versions before 7.5.2. It is classified under CWE-1333, which pertains to vulnerabilities associated with regular expressions.

The vulnerability was published on June 21, 2023, and organizations are encouraged to take immediate action to ensure their systems are updated.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of CVE-2022-25883 lies in how the semver package processes input ranges. When untrusted data is provided, the application can enter a state of excessive backtracking, which leads to performance degradation or denial of service.

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote attackers to exploit the vulnerability without needing physical access to the system. The attack complexity is low, requiring no special privileges or user interaction, thus making it accessible to a wider range of attackers.

When exploited, this vulnerability impacts the availability of the service, as it can lead to system unresponsiveness or crashes. The confidentiality and integrity of the system are not directly compromised by this vulnerability.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Organizations using the vulnerable versions of the semver package face real-world risks, including potential service outages and loss of availability. The blast radius could extend to any application utilizing the semver package, potentially affecting a wide array of services.

As this vulnerability can be exploited with low complexity and no required privileges, it is crucial for organizations to assess their exposure and prioritize this vulnerability in their patch management cycles. The urgency for remediation is marked as high due to the availability impact associated with this vulnerability.

Organizations should evaluate their dependencies and ensure that they are using the latest version of the semver package to mitigate any potential risks. It is advisable to implement monitoring solutions to detect any anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

Affected versions of the semver package include all versions prior to 7.5.2. Specifically, versions from 0.1.0 to 7.5.1 are vulnerable, which encompasses a wide range of applications that rely on this package.

Mitigation & Remediation

To mitigate CVE-2022-25883, organizations should update the semver package to version 7.5.2 or later. If immediate patching is not feasible, organizations should consider implementing input validation to sanitize untrusted user data before it is processed.

Additionally, organizations are encouraged to conduct regular security assessments to identify and remediate vulnerabilities. For a comprehensive approach to security, organizations can utilize penetration testing to ensure all vulnerabilities are addressed.

Detection Guidance

Organizations should monitor logs for unusual patterns of behavior that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Indicators of compromise may include unusually high resource usage or unresponsive services.

Regularly reviewing application logs and employing network monitoring tools can help detect and respond to potential exploitation of this vulnerability.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

CVE-2022-25883 highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly in how user inputs are handled. This vulnerability represents a common risk pattern seen in many applications that do not adequately validate input data.

Organizations should take this incident as a lesson to strengthen their security posture by implementing robust input validation mechanisms and regular security audits. This proactive approach can significantly reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities arising in the future.

For further insights into vulnerability management, organizations can refer to our guide on vulnerability management programs and consider implementing a penetration testing methodology that ensures comprehensive coverage of security assessments.

Additionally, organizations should stay updated on emerging threats and vulnerabilities by following industry best practices and engaging in knowledge-sharing within the security community.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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