CVE-2023-49800 in nuxt-api-party
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2023
`nuxt-api-party` is an open source module to proxy API requests. The library allows the user to send many options directly to `ofetch`. There is no filter on which options are available. We can abuse the retry logic to cause the server to crash from a stack overflow. fetchOptions are obtained directly from the request body. A malicious user can construct a URL known to not fetch successfully, then set the retry attempts to a high value, this will cause a stack overflow as ofetch error handling works recursively resulting in a denial of service. This issue has been addressed in version 0.22.1. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade should limit ofetch options.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-49800 affects the nuxt-api-party open source module, which serves as a proxy for API requests within Nuxt.js applications. This module acts as an intermediary layer that forwards requests to backend services while providing flexibility through direct passthrough of options to the underlying ofetch library. The security flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the request processing pipeline, where user-provided parameters are directly consumed without proper filtering or restriction mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the configuration options that can be passed to ofetch, creating a dangerous attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate the retry logic parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of fetchOptions received from the request body, which are then directly forwarded to the ofetch library without any validation or sanitization. When a malicious user constructs a request containing a URL that is known to fail during fetching operations, they can simultaneously set an excessive number of retry attempts through the retry parameter. This configuration triggers a recursive error handling mechanism within ofetch that leads to a stack overflow condition, ultimately causing the server process to crash and resulting in a denial of service attack. The recursive nature of the error handling in ofetch creates a cascading effect where each retry iteration adds another frame to the call stack, exhausting available memory resources.
This vulnerability represents a classic example of a denial of service attack that leverages improper input validation and error handling design patterns. The flaw aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," specifically targeting stack overflow conditions caused by recursive operations. From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to production systems as it allows remote attackers to disrupt service availability with relatively simple payload construction. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through standard HTTP request manipulation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the module is exposed to untrusted user inputs.
The mitigation strategy involves upgrading to version 0.22.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization of the fetchOptions parameters. This upgrade addresses the root cause by implementing appropriate filtering mechanisms that prevent malicious retry values from being processed. For organizations unable to perform immediate upgrades, defensive measures should include restricting the available options passed to ofetch through configuration controls, specifically limiting or disabling the retry functionality. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and input validation at the application level can provide additional protection layers. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004, which deals with "Endpoint Denial of Service" through resource exhaustion techniques, highlighting the operational security implications and the need for robust input validation controls.
The broader implications of this vulnerability extend beyond immediate denial of service concerns to highlight the importance of secure configuration management in web applications. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly innocuous library features can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented at multiple layers of the application architecture. Organizations should implement comprehensive security testing procedures that include validation of third-party library integrations and their parameter handling mechanisms. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices such as input validation, proper error handling, and resource limiting to prevent recursive operations from causing system instability.