CVE-2025-66031: High Severity Vulnerability In Node-forge

by Alex Johnson 58 views

This article discusses the high-severity vulnerability, CVE-2025-66031, detected in version 0.10.0 of the node-forge library. This vulnerability impacts projects utilizing this version, including those related to mcaj-git and vue2. Understanding the details of this vulnerability, its potential impact, and the recommended remediation steps is crucial for maintaining the security and integrity of your applications.

Understanding CVE-2025-66031

This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-66031, is classified as a high-severity issue. It stems from an Uncontrolled Recursion flaw within node-forge versions 1.3.1 and below. node-forge itself is a JavaScript library providing implementations for network transports, cryptography, ciphers, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), message digests, and various utilities. Its widespread use makes this vulnerability a significant concern for many projects.

The core of the problem lies in the library's handling of ASN.1 structures. An attacker can craft deeply nested ASN.1 structures that, when parsed by vulnerable versions of node-forge, trigger unbounded recursive parsing. This uncontrolled recursion leads to stack exhaustion, effectively causing a Denial-of-Service (DoS) condition. This means that an attacker can potentially crash or render a service unavailable by exploiting this vulnerability.

The implications of this vulnerability are far-reaching. Any application relying on node-forge to parse untrusted DER inputs (a common encoding format for ASN.1 data) is potentially susceptible to this DoS attack. This can disrupt critical services, impact user experience, and potentially lead to data breaches or other security incidents. Therefore, it is imperative to address this vulnerability promptly.

Vulnerable Library Details

  • Vulnerable Library: node-forge-0.10.0.tgz
  • Description: JavaScript implementations of network transports, cryptography, ciphers, PKI, message digests, and various utilities.
  • Library Home Page: https://registry.npmjs.org/node-forge/-/node-forge-0.10.0.tgz
  • Path to Dependency File: /package.json
  • Path to Vulnerable Library: /node_modules/node-forge/package.json

Dependency Hierarchy

The vulnerability exists within a dependency chain, illustrating how deeply rooted such issues can be within a project. Here's the hierarchy:

  • cli-service-3.12.1.tgz (Root Library)
    • webpack-dev-server-3.11.2.tgz
      • selfsigned-1.10.8.tgz
        • :x: node-forge-0.10.0.tgz (Vulnerable Library)

This hierarchy highlights that the vulnerability isn't directly within the root library but is a transitive dependency. This means that even if your project doesn't directly use node-forge, it can still be vulnerable if a dependency does. This underscores the importance of regular dependency scanning and vulnerability management.

Branch Information

  • Found in base branch: main

Knowing the branch where the vulnerability is detected is crucial for prioritizing remediation efforts. The main branch typically represents the current stable version, indicating that the vulnerability is present in the production codebase.

Vulnerability Details Explained

The Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerability in node-forge (versions 1.3.1 and below) allows attackers to exploit the parsing of ASN.1 structures. ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One) is a standard and flexible data serialization format used in various applications, including cryptography and networking. DER (Distinguished Encoding Rules) is a specific encoding format for ASN.1 data.

The vulnerability arises because the library doesn't properly limit the depth of recursion when parsing ASN.1 structures. An attacker can craft a malicious ASN.1 structure with excessive nesting. When node-forge attempts to parse this structure, the recursive parsing process can exceed the available stack space, leading to a stack overflow and ultimately causing a Denial-of-Service (DoS).

This type of attack is particularly dangerous because it doesn't require any authentication. An unauthenticated attacker can send a crafted ASN.1 structure to a vulnerable service, triggering the DoS condition. This makes it relatively easy to exploit and poses a significant risk to the availability of the affected application.

CVSS 3 Score Breakdown (7.5 - High Severity)

The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) provides a standardized way to assess the severity of vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-66031 has a CVSS 3 base score of 7.5, which is considered High severity. Understanding the components of this score helps to grasp the specific risks associated with this vulnerability.

The CVSS score is calculated based on several metrics, which fall into two main categories: Exploitability Metrics and Impact Metrics. Let's break down each of these:

Exploitability Metrics:

These metrics reflect the ease with which an attacker can exploit the vulnerability.

  • Attack Vector: Network: This indicates that the vulnerability can be exploited over a network, meaning an attacker can be remote and doesn't need local access to the system. This significantly increases the risk as it widens the potential attack surface.
  • Attack Complexity: Low: This means that exploiting the vulnerability requires little specialized knowledge or effort. The crafted ASN.1 structure can be relatively simple to create, making it easier for attackers to leverage the vulnerability.
  • Privileges Required: None: This is a critical factor contributing to the high severity. An attacker doesn't need any credentials or privileges to exploit the vulnerability, making it accessible to anyone on the network.
  • User Interaction: None: The attack doesn't require any interaction from a user. The attacker can send the malicious ASN.1 structure directly to the vulnerable service without any user intervention.
  • Scope: Unchanged: This means that the vulnerability only affects the component where it exists (i.e., node-forge) and doesn't impact other parts of the system.

Impact Metrics:

These metrics describe the consequences of a successful exploit.

  • Confidentiality Impact: None: A successful exploit of this vulnerability doesn't compromise the confidentiality of data. The attacker cannot access sensitive information.
  • Integrity Impact: None: The vulnerability doesn't allow an attacker to modify data or system configurations.
  • Availability Impact: High: This is the most significant impact of this vulnerability. The Denial-of-Service (DoS) can render the service unavailable, disrupting operations and potentially causing significant downtime.

In summary, the CVSS score of 7.5 reflects the ease of exploitation (Network attack vector, Low complexity, No privileges required, No user interaction) combined with the high potential impact on availability. This underscores the urgency of addressing this vulnerability.

For more information on CVSS3 Scores, you can refer to the official documentation and calculator provided by FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams) here.

Suggested Fix and Remediation

The recommended solution to address CVE-2025-66031 is to upgrade the node-forge library to a patched version. The fix resolution for node-forge is version 1.3.2. This version contains the necessary changes to prevent the uncontrolled recursion during ASN.1 parsing.

Upgrade Steps

The specific steps to upgrade node-forge will depend on your project's dependency management system (e.g., npm, yarn). However, the general process involves the following:

  1. Identify the dependency: Use your package manager's command to list dependencies and verify that node-forge 0.10.0 is present in your project.
  2. Upgrade node-forge: Use your package manager's command to upgrade node-forge to version 1.3.2 or later. For example, using npm, you would run npm update node-forge.
  3. Update direct dependency: In this specific case, since node-forge is a transitive dependency, you might also need to upgrade the direct dependency @vue/cli-service to version 5.0.1 to ensure the updated node-forge version is used. Use your package manager to update it, for instance, run npm update @vue/cli-service.
  4. Test thoroughly: After upgrading, it's crucial to test your application thoroughly to ensure that the upgrade hasn't introduced any regressions and that the vulnerability is indeed resolved. Pay particular attention to areas of your application that handle ASN.1 data or use cryptographic functions.
  5. Re-scan for vulnerabilities: After the upgrade and testing, re-run your vulnerability scanning tools to confirm that CVE-2025-66031 is no longer detected.

Mitigation Strategies (If Immediate Upgrade is Not Possible)

While upgrading to the patched version is the primary recommendation, there might be situations where an immediate upgrade is not feasible. In such cases, consider these mitigation strategies:

  • Input validation: Implement strict input validation for any data that is parsed as ASN.1. Limit the depth and complexity of ASN.1 structures that your application will process. This can help prevent the uncontrolled recursion from occurring.
  • Web application firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF that can detect and block malicious ASN.1 structures. A WAF can act as a protective layer, filtering out potentially harmful requests before they reach your application.

Note: These mitigation strategies are not substitutes for upgrading to the patched version. They should be considered temporary measures to reduce the risk until a proper upgrade can be performed.

Conclusion

CVE-2025-66031 represents a significant security risk due to the potential for Denial-of-Service attacks. Promptly addressing this vulnerability by upgrading node-forge to version 1.3.2 or later is essential for safeguarding your applications. Remember the importance of regularly scanning your dependencies for vulnerabilities and staying informed about security updates.

By understanding the nature of this vulnerability, its potential impact, and the recommended remediation steps, you can take proactive measures to protect your applications and maintain a robust security posture.

For more in-depth information on security best practices and vulnerability management, consider exploring resources from trusted organizations like OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project).