CVE-2014-7193 in Crumb Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The Crumb plugin before 3.0.0 for Node.js does not properly restrict token access in situations where a hapi route handler has CORS enabled, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information, and potentially obtain the ability to spoof requests to non-CORS routes, via a crafted web site that is visited by an application consumer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The CVE-2014-7193 vulnerability resides within the Crumb plugin version 3.0.0 and earlier for Node.js, representing a critical security flaw in cross-origin resource sharing (CORS) protection mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets applications that utilize the hapi web framework and implement CORS functionality, creating a dangerous condition where token access is improperly restricted. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of token handling when CORS is enabled in hapi route handlers, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability operates by leveraging the inherent trust relationships between web applications and their consumers, particularly when those consumers interact with multiple domains within the same browser context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental design of how CORS and CSRF protection interact within the hapi framework. When a hapi application enables CORS for specific routes, the Crumb plugin fails to properly validate that tokens originating from cross-origin requests are legitimate and intended for the current application context. This misconfiguration allows attackers to craft malicious websites that can make requests to the vulnerable application and potentially extract CSRF tokens or other sensitive data. The flaw essentially creates a pathway where tokens intended for one origin can be accessed by another, violating the core principle of same-origin policy enforcement that browsers implement to protect against cross-site request forgery attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic weakness in token management where the plugin does not adequately distinguish between legitimate and malicious token access patterns, particularly when dealing with cross-origin scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable sophisticated attack vectors including request spoofing against non-CORS routes. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to craft malicious web pages that, when visited by legitimate application users, can harvest CSRF tokens and other sensitive data from the vulnerable application. This capability allows for the construction of attacks that can bypass traditional CSRF protections, particularly when users navigate to malicious sites while authenticated to the vulnerable application. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can establish long-term access to sensitive information, potentially leading to unauthorized actions within the application context. The exploitation requires minimal technical sophistication and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with multiple domains or where applications handle sensitive user data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7193 require immediate attention and implementation of multiple defensive measures to protect affected applications. The most direct solution involves upgrading the Crumb plugin to version 3.0.0 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved token access restriction mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as strict Content Security Policy headers that limit cross-origin resource access and ensure that CORS configurations are properly constrained to only allow trusted origins. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and request filtering mechanisms can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper token management and access control implementation, particularly in frameworks where multiple security mechanisms interact. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all applications using the hapi framework and related plugins to identify potential exposure points and ensure that all security configurations align with industry best practices. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security libraries and understanding the interaction patterns between different security controls within web applications. The issue demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in token handling can create significant security risks when combined with other security mechanisms such as CORS, and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing and validation of web application components.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-346, which addresses "Origin Validation Error", and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering attacks that leverage cross-site request forgery. The flaw represents a classic case of improper access control in web applications where the system fails to validate the origin of requests and tokens, creating a dangerous trust relationship that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and functionality.