CVE-2019-14772 in verdaccio
Summary
by MITRE
verdaccio before 3.12.0 allows XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
Verdaccio is a popular private npm registry server that enables organizations to host their own package repositories and manage package access controls. The vulnerability CVE-2019-14772 represents a cross-site scripting flaw that affects verdaccio versions prior to 3.12.0, creating a significant security risk for users who rely on this registry management system. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the registry interface through improperly sanitized user input, potentially compromising the security of the entire package management infrastructure.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the verdaccio application's user interface components. Specifically, user-provided data such as package names, descriptions, or other metadata fields are not properly escaped or filtered before being rendered in the web interface. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected package information. The vulnerability manifests when the application displays user-generated content without appropriate HTML escaping mechanisms, making it susceptible to XSS attacks that can persist across user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities within the registry environment. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify package information, or even inject backdoors into the registry itself. The consequences are particularly severe in enterprise environments where verdaccio serves as a critical component of software development workflows, as compromised registry access could lead to supply chain attacks or unauthorized package modifications that affect multiple development teams and applications. The vulnerability also affects the integrity of the entire package ecosystem that relies on the registry for package distribution and version control.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to verdaccio version 3.12.0 or later to address this vulnerability, as this release includes proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as content security policies, regular security audits of package repositories, and monitoring for suspicious activity within the registry. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution through web interfaces. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation, access controls, and regular vulnerability assessments to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in other registry components or related systems.