Versions of the package angular from 1.4.9 are vulnerable to Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) via the <input type="url"> element due to the usage of an insecure regular expression in the input[url] functionality. Exploiting this vulnerability is possible by a large carefully-crafted input, which can result in catastrophic backtracking. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.3, categorizing it as medium severity. This indicates that while the attack complexity is low and does not require privileges or user interaction, it can lead to availability impact.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability's potential impact on availability highlights the importance of addressing this issue promptly to prevent service disruptions.
This vulnerability affects AngularJS versions from 1.4.9 up to 1.8.3 and also has implications for Fedora 38. Security teams should assess their deployments and implement necessary updates to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
Risk to organizations includes potential service disruptions caused by exploitation of this vulnerability. Given the nature of ReDoS attacks, attackers may leverage this weakness to cause significant delays and interruptions in service availability.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is characterized by the use of an insecure regular expression in the input[url] functionality of AngularJS. As per the CVSS 3.1 metrics, it has a base score of 5.3 and is classified as medium severity. The attack vector is network-based, and attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring any privileges or user interaction.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure regular expression used in the input validation process. Attackers can craft a large input string that triggers catastrophic backtracking, leading to significant delays in processing. The attack complexity is low, and no privileges or user interactions are required for successful exploitation. The availability impact is rated as low, indicating that while the service may slow down, it may not become entirely unavailable.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is moderate. Organizations using AngularJS in their applications face potential service interruptions that could affect user experience and operational efficiency. The blast radius of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for applications that rely heavily on user input through the affected element. Given the medium severity and the potential for exploitation, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects AngularJS versions from 1.4.9 to 1.8.3, as well as Fedora 38. Organizations should review their systems and ensure that they are updated to secure versions to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching their AngularJS installations to versions that are not affected by this vulnerability. For those unable to apply immediate updates, consider implementing input validation mechanisms that limit input size and complexity to mitigate the risk of ReDoS attacks. Additionally, consider conducting a thorough review of your application's input handling mechanisms, and incorporate best practices in security testing. For further guidance, organizations can refer to resources on continuous penetration testing to enhance their security posture.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring for unusual patterns in input handling can help detect attempts at exploiting this vulnerability. Log indicators such as unusually long input strings or repeated input attempts can be useful for identifying potential attacks. Additionally, reviewing application performance metrics can reveal signs of service degradation consistent with ReDoS attacks.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in the way it highlights the critical need for secure coding practices, especially in libraries widely used in web applications. As organizations increasingly rely on frameworks like AngularJS for their front-end development, understanding and mitigating vulnerabilities such as this is essential.
Security teams should be vigilant in reviewing third-party dependencies and ensuring they are regularly updated to remove vulnerabilities. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a robust security assessment framework that includes regular evaluations of both custom code and third-party components. For organizations looking to strengthen their defenses, insights can be gleaned from our penetration testing methodology and other best practices.
As organizations continue to navigate the evolving threat landscape, maintaining awareness of vulnerabilities and implementing appropriate mitigations will be key to protecting against potential exploits.
For further reading on secure practices, organizations can explore our resources on vulnerability management programs.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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