CVE-2022-0613 in uri.js
Summary
by MITRE • 02/16/2022
Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key in NPM urijs prior to 1.19.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0613 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the NPM urijs library version 1.19.7 and earlier. This issue stems from improper handling of user-controlled input within the library's URI parsing and manipulation functions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent intended access controls. The vulnerability manifests when applications utilizing urijs process user-supplied URI data without adequate validation, allowing attackers to manipulate authentication tokens or access control parameters embedded within URI structures. The flaw specifically affects systems where urijs is used to parse or construct URIs containing sensitive authorization information, potentially enabling unauthorized access to protected resources or services.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted URI inputs that manipulate the library's internal key handling mechanisms. When urijs processes URIs containing user-controlled data, it fails to properly validate or sanitize authentication keys, session tokens, or other access control parameters embedded within URI components. This allows attackers to inject malicious parameters that bypass authorization checks implemented at the application level. The vulnerability can be leveraged in scenarios where applications rely on urijs for URI manipulation and authentication token handling, particularly in web applications that process user input through URI parsing functions. The flaw essentially enables attackers to manipulate the library's internal state through carefully crafted URI inputs, effectively allowing them to bypass intended access controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0613 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data breaches, unauthorized system access, and service disruption. Organizations utilizing affected versions of urijs may experience unauthorized access to protected resources, including but not limited to user accounts, administrative interfaces, or sensitive data repositories. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in applications implementing token-based authentication, session management, or role-based access controls, where URI manipulation can directly influence authorization decisions. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges, access restricted functionality, or perform unauthorized operations within systems that depend on urijs for URI processing. The impact is amplified when applications are deployed in environments where urijs is used extensively for URL manipulation and authentication token handling.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to urijs version 1.19.8 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization of user-controlled URI data. Organizations should conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify all instances where urijs is used for URI processing, particularly in authentication-related contexts, and ensure that all user-supplied URI data is properly validated before being processed. Additional defensive measures include implementing input sanitization at multiple layers, including application-level validation of URI components, deployment of web application firewalls, and monitoring for anomalous URI patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses authorization bypass issues, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as exploitation often involves manipulating authentication tokens through crafted URI inputs. Organizations should also consider implementing automated dependency monitoring to quickly identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their software supply chain.