CVE-2022-1214 in axios
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2022
Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in GitHub repository axios/axios prior to 0.26.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1214 represents a critical exposure of sensitive information within the axios JavaScript HTTP client library, affecting versions prior to 0.26. This issue stems from improper handling of sensitive data during HTTP request processing, creating potential avenues for unauthorized actors to access confidential information. The vulnerability manifests in the library's approach to managing request headers and response data, particularly when dealing with authentication tokens, API keys, or other credential material that should remain protected from unintended exposure.
The technical flaw resides in how axios processes and logs HTTP communications, specifically when sensitive information flows through the request pipeline. The library fails to adequately sanitize or filter potentially confidential data before it reaches logging mechanisms or error reporting systems. This misconfiguration allows for sensitive information to be inadvertently included in stack traces, error messages, or log entries that may be accessible to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including man-in-the-middle scenarios, compromised logging systems, or insecure error handling practices that expose internal state information to attackers.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1214 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks when combined with other vulnerabilities or attack techniques. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains access to authentication tokens, session identifiers, or API credentials that could enable them to impersonate legitimate users or gain unauthorized access to protected resources. This exposure directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, particularly the identification of sensitive data exposure as a critical risk factor. The vulnerability's presence in a widely-used library like axios amplifies its potential impact, as countless applications depend on this component for HTTP communications and may unknowingly expose sensitive information through this flaw.
Organizations using affected versions of axios should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to version 0.26 or later, which includes proper sanitization of sensitive data during HTTP request processing. Additional mitigations should include implementing comprehensive logging controls that prevent sensitive information from being written to system logs, configuring network monitoring to detect unusual data flows, and establishing proper input validation for all HTTP communications. Security teams should also review their application error handling practices to ensure that sensitive information is never exposed through error messages or debugging output. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1567.002 for "Exfiltration Over Web Service" and CWE-209, which addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," emphasizing the need for robust error handling and data sanitization practices throughout the application lifecycle.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of secure coding practices in third-party libraries, particularly those handling sensitive data flows. Security professionals should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their dependency trees and implement automated tools to detect and remediate similar issues across their software supply chain. Organizations must also consider implementing security monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with information exposure events, providing early warning capabilities for potential exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in their infrastructure.