CVE-2020-28437 in heroku-env
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2022
This affects all versions of package heroku-env. The injection point is located in lib/get.js which is required by index.js.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-28437 represents a critical security flaw in the heroku-env npm package that affects all versions of this software component. This package is commonly used by developers to manage environment variables when working with heroku applications, making it a potentially widespread attack vector across numerous development and deployment environments. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the package's core functionality, specifically in the lib/get.js file which serves as a critical module required by the main index.js file. The injection point occurs during the processing of environment variable configurations where untrusted input is directly consumed without adequate security controls, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic command injection or code execution flaw where the lib/get.js module fails to properly sanitize user-provided input before incorporating it into system operations. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious commands or code sequences that can be executed within the context of the application environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the package level rather than at the application level, meaning that any application utilizing heroku-env could be compromised regardless of the application's own security measures. The attack surface extends beyond simple code injection to potentially include privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and system compromise depending on the execution environment and permissions granted to the affected applications. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories which specifically address command injection and code injection flaws that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly across development and production environments where heroku-env is deployed, as it can affect continuous integration pipelines, automated deployment systems, and local development setups. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive environment variables, potentially exposing API keys, database credentials, and other confidential information stored within the environment configuration. The widespread adoption of this npm package means that the vulnerability could impact numerous applications and organizations simultaneously, particularly those using heroku for cloud deployment and management. Organizations relying on automated deployment processes that utilize heroku-env could face complete system compromise if attackers successfully exploit this injection point. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within affected systems, making it a particularly dangerous flaw in enterprise environments where configuration management and environment variable handling are critical components of security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-28437 should prioritize immediate remediation through package updates or version pinning to avoid vulnerable versions of heroku-env. Organizations must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems and applications utilizing this package, implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation. Security teams should establish monitoring protocols to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around environment variable access and configuration changes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and sanitization practices within all software components, following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing dependency scanning tools and automated security checks in their development pipelines to prevent the inclusion of vulnerable packages. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated configurations to ensure that security patches do not introduce regressions in application functionality while maintaining the integrity of environment variable management processes.