CVE-2015-9243 in Hapi Module
Summary
by MITRE
When server level, connection level or route level CORS configurations in hapi node module before 11.1.4 are combined and when a higher level config included security restrictions (like origin), a higher level config that included security restrictions (like origin) would have those restrictions overridden by less restrictive defaults (e.g. origin defaults to all origins `*`).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9243 affects the hapi node module, a popular web application framework for building APIs and web applications in javascript. This security flaw resides in the Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) configuration handling mechanism of the framework, specifically when multiple CORS configuration levels are utilized within the same application. The issue manifests when developers implement hierarchical CORS configurations at different levels of their application architecture, including server-level, connection-level, and route-level settings. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of configuration inheritance and override logic within the hapi framework's CORS implementation.
The technical flaw occurs when a combination of CORS configurations at different levels is present in the hapi application. When a higher level configuration includes security restrictions such as specific origin whitelisting, these security parameters are inadvertently overridden by less restrictive default values during the configuration processing. Specifically, the origin parameter defaults to allowing all origins represented by the wildcard character '*', effectively nullifying the security restrictions that were explicitly configured at higher levels. This behavior violates fundamental security principles and creates an unintended access control vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the CORS security controls that developers implement to protect their web applications from cross-origin attacks. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to bypass origin restrictions and perform unauthorized cross-origin requests, potentially leading to data leakage, privilege escalation, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates silently, with no explicit error messages or warnings, making it difficult to detect during routine security assessments or penetration testing. Applications using hapi versions prior to 11.1.4 that implement complex CORS configurations are at risk of having their security controls bypassed, creating potential attack vectors for cross-site request forgery and other cross-origin exploits.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a specific instance of configuration management failure in web application frameworks. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the use of cross-site scripting and other web application attacks that leverage improper security controls. Organizations using the affected hapi versions should prioritize upgrading to version 11.1.4 or later, which includes proper handling of CORS configuration inheritance and prevents the override of security restrictions. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough audits of existing CORS configurations to identify and remediate any instances where security parameters might be inadvertently overridden. The fix implemented in the patched version ensures that security restrictions configured at higher levels maintain their integrity and are not superseded by default values, thereby preserving the intended security posture of applications using the hapi framework.