CVE-2020-7623 in jscover
Summary
by MITRE
jscover through 1.0.0 is vulnerable to Command Injection. It allows execution of arbitrary command via the source argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7623 affects jscover version 1.0.0 and earlier, representing a critical command injection flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the source argument handling within the jscover tool, which is commonly used for code coverage analysis in javascript environments. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied parameters before they are processed by the underlying system commands.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of command-line arguments where the source parameter is directly incorporated into system execution calls without adequate sanitization. When an attacker provides malicious input through the source argument, the jscover tool processes this input by constructing system commands that include the unvalidated parameter, creating an opportunity for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-78, which specifically addresses OS Command Injection, and represents a fundamental weakness in input validation and command construction practices. The attack vector leverages the tool's design assumption that input parameters are benign, failing to account for maliciously crafted payloads that could manipulate the execution flow of system commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to the underlying system where jscover is deployed. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to perform various malicious activities including but not limited to data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, privilege escalation, or even establishing persistent access through backdoor creation. The severity is amplified because jscover is typically used in development and testing environments where it may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive code repositories and build systems. This vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the tool is exposed to untrusted inputs or deployed in network-accessible configurations.
Organizations using jscover version 1.0.0 or earlier should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability, applying input validation controls to filter and sanitize all user-supplied parameters, and implementing proper command execution frameworks that utilize whitelisting or parameterized approaches instead of direct string concatenation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on JavaScript and Node.js environments. Additional defensive measures should include network segmentation to limit access to systems running jscover, implementing application firewalls to monitor and filter command execution patterns, and establishing runtime monitoring for suspicious command sequences that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and dependency updates should be enforced as part of the software development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced through third-party tools and libraries.