CVE-2022-1929 in devcert
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2022
An exponential ReDoS (Regular Expression Denial of Service) can be triggered in the devcert npm package, when an attacker is able to supply arbitrary input to the certificateFor method
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1929 represents a critical security flaw within the devcert npm package that exposes applications to exponential Regular Expression Denial of Service attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the certificateFor method which processes user-supplied input through regular expressions, creating a potential attack vector where malicious actors can craft input designed to cause catastrophic performance degradation. The flaw operates by exploiting inefficient regular expression patterns that exhibit exponential backtracking behavior when processing specially crafted inputs, leading to extended processing times that can effectively crash or render applications unresponsive.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of regular expressions within the devcert package's certificateFor method. When an attacker supplies malicious input, the regular expression engine must perform extensive backtracking operations to determine whether the input matches the defined patterns, resulting in exponential time complexity rather than the expected linear processing time. This behavior is classified under CWE-400 as an unspecified vulnerability in regular expression processing, specifically manifesting as a denial of service condition. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through user-controllable input, making it exploitable in web applications, command-line tools, or any system that relies on the devcert package for certificate management operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1929 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire application availability and user experience. In production environments, this vulnerability can cause significant resource exhaustion, leading to server overload, application crashes, or complete service unavailability. Attackers can exploit this weakness by providing carefully crafted inputs that cause the regular expression engine to consume excessive CPU cycles and memory resources, effectively creating a denial of service condition. The vulnerability affects any system that utilizes the devcert npm package, particularly development environments, testing frameworks, and automated certificate management systems. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, where adversaries leverage application-level vulnerabilities to exhaust system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1929 require immediate attention from system administrators and developers who utilize the affected devcert package. The primary recommendation involves updating to the latest version of the devcert package where the vulnerable regular expression patterns have been replaced with more efficient alternatives that prevent exponential backtracking behavior. Organizations should also implement input validation and sanitization measures to filter potentially malicious inputs before they reach the certificateFor method, though this approach alone may not fully address the underlying vulnerability. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and resource monitoring can help detect and mitigate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using the affected package and ensure proper patch management protocols are followed. The remediation process should also include monitoring for suspicious activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the exponential nature of the attack makes it detectable through unusual resource consumption patterns.