CVE-2020-28423 in monorepo-build
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2022
This affects all versions of package monorepo-build.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-28423 impacts all versions of the monorepo-build package, representing a critical security flaw that affects software development workflows relying on this tool. This package serves as a build automation utility for managing monorepositories, which are single repositories containing multiple related projects or packages. The flaw exists within the package's handling of dependencies and execution processes, creating potential attack vectors that could compromise the integrity of development environments and build systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper privilege management during package installation and execution phases, making it particularly dangerous in automated build environments where security controls may be less stringent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper handling of symbolic links and file permissions during the build process. Attackers can exploit this flaw by manipulating the package's dependency resolution mechanism to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-78, which covers improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands. These weaknesses allow adversaries to inject malicious code through carefully crafted package dependencies or build configurations, potentially leading to complete system compromise when the build process executes with administrative privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-28423 extends beyond simple code execution, affecting entire development pipelines and supply chain security. Organizations utilizing monorepo-build in their CI/CD environments face significant risk of supply chain attacks where malicious actors can inject backdoors or malware into the build process. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate development team but also downstream consumers of the built artifacts, potentially compromising thousands of systems that depend on packages built through affected versions. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1505.003 for server software component, as attackers can leverage the build system to establish persistent access points.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of all affected monorepo-build installations across development environments. Organizations should implement strict dependency verification processes and maintain comprehensive audit trails of all package installations and updates. The remediation approach must include updating to the latest stable version of the package while implementing additional security controls such as sandboxed build environments and privilege separation. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect and prevent the installation of compromised packages. Organizations may need to re-evaluate their software supply chain security practices and implement more robust verification mechanisms for all third-party dependencies used in their build processes, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing development tooling against supply chain attacks.