CVE-2022-23923 in org.webjars.bower:jailed
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2022
All versions of package jailed are vulnerable to Sandbox Bypass via an exported alert() method which can access the main application. Exported methods are stored in the application.remote object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23923 affects the jailed package, which is commonly used for creating secure sandboxes in Node.js applications. This security flaw represents a critical sandbox bypass issue that fundamentally undermines the isolation guarantees typically provided by sandboxing mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of exported methods within the sandboxed environment, creating a direct pathway for malicious code to escape confinement and access privileged application resources.
The technical root cause lies in how the jailed package manages exported methods through the application.remote object. When methods are exported from the sandboxed environment, they become accessible to the host application through this remote object reference. The specific flaw involves an exported alert() method that retains access to the main application context, effectively allowing sandboxed code to execute arbitrary operations within the host environment. This bypass occurs because the export mechanism does not properly restrict the scope of these methods, enabling them to maintain references to the parent application's execution context.
This vulnerability has significant operational implications for applications that rely on jailed for security isolation. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive data, or perform privilege escalation attacks against the host application. The impact extends beyond simple code execution as the bypass allows for complete compromise of the application's security model, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or further attacks on connected systems. The vulnerability affects all versions of the package, indicating a fundamental design flaw rather than a temporary implementation error.
The security implications align with CWE-242, which addresses the use of dangerous functions that can lead to security vulnerabilities, and also relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations using this package must immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions, removing the vulnerable package from production environments, or implementing additional access controls and monitoring. The remediation approach should involve thorough code audits to identify all exported methods and ensure proper isolation boundaries are maintained. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish network segmentation to limit the impact of any successful attacks.