This vulnerability allows an attacker to create an excessive number of sub-folders through the isaacs tar component, leading to resource exhaustion on the system running the affected software. The vulnerability is classified as medium severity with a CVSS score of 6.5, indicating a moderate level of risk. The potential impact includes crashing the Node.js client within seconds when exploited using a path with too many sub-folders.
Organizations using versions prior to 6.2.1 of the isaacs tar component are at risk. Since there is no known exploit available for this vulnerability, it is essential for organizations to take proactive measures. The urgency for patching is moderate, and organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
With the increasing reliance on Node.js applications, the implications of this vulnerability could lead to significant disruptions. Attackers may leverage the absence of folder depth validation to cause denial of service conditions, resulting in degraded performance or system crashes.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. Version 6.2.1 of node-tar addresses this issue by implementing limits on sub-folder creation during the extraction process.
Vulnerability Details
node-tar is a Tar for Node.js. node-tar prior to version 6.2.1 has no limit on the number of sub-folders created in the folder creation process. An attacker who generates a large number of sub-folders can consume memory on the system running node-tar and even crash the Node.js client within few seconds of running it using a path with too many sub-folders inside. Version 6.2.1 fixes this issue by preventing extraction in excessively deep sub-folders.
The CVSS score of 6.5 indicates medium severity, with the attack vector being network-based. The attack complexity is low, meaning that the conditions required to exploit the vulnerability are minimal. No privileges are required to exploit this issue, but user interaction is necessary.
The CWE classifications associated with this vulnerability are CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) and CWE-770 (Allocation of Resources Without Limits).
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of validation on the number of sub-folders that can be created during the extraction process. This flaw allows attackers to craft paths with excessive depth, leading to resource exhaustion and potential crashes.
The attack vector is network-based, and the complexity is low. No privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, but user interaction is necessary to initiate the extraction process.
In terms of impact, the confidentiality and integrity are not affected, but the availability impact is high, as it can lead to service interruptions.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential downtime and resource exhaustion, which could disrupt operations and affect user experience. Given that there is no known exploit currently, the risk is somewhat contained; however, organizations should remain vigilant.
The blast radius for this vulnerability is potentially broad, as it can affect any application utilizing the vulnerable version of the isaacs tar component. The urgency for organizations to patch this vulnerability is moderate, and it should be prioritized in their patch cycles to ensure continued operational stability.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected version of the isaacs tar component is any version prior to 6.2.1. It is advisable for organizations to upgrade to version 6.2.1 or later.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to version 6.2.1 of the isaacs tar component. If immediate patching is not feasible, organizations should consider implementing workarounds such as restricting the use of the affected component or enforcing limits on sub-folder creation in their applications.
Additionally, configuration hardening and network controls should be applied to mitigate potential risks associated with this vulnerability. Continuous monitoring for any unusual behavior or resource consumption should also be established.
Penetration testing can also be beneficial to validate the effectiveness of remediation efforts and to identify similar weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of abuse or excessive resource consumption related to the isaacs tar component. Behavioral anomalies during file extraction processes should be investigated, and network signatures related to the exploitation of this issue should be established.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-28863 lies in its demonstration of the importance of validating user inputs and enforcing limits within software components. This vulnerability represents a pattern of oversights that can lead to denial of service conditions if not properly managed.
Security teams can draw lessons from this incident to bolster their defenses against similar vulnerabilities. It emphasizes the need for robust input validation and resource management practices in application development.
Vulnerability management programs should be designed to address such issues proactively and ensure organizational resilience against future threats.
Regular penetration testing can also serve as a critical component in evaluating the security posture of applications utilizing components like isaacs tar.
Security testing best practices should be established to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are detected and mitigated in a timely manner.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)