CVE-2024-24558 in Query
Summary
by MITRE • 01/30/2024
TanStack Query supplies asynchronous state management, server-state utilities and data fetching for the web. The `@tanstack/react-query-next-experimental` NPM package is vulnerable to a cross-site scripting vulnerability. To exploit this, an attacker would need to either inject malicious input or arrange to have malicious input be returned from an endpoint. To fix this issue, please update to version 5.18.0 or later.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2024
TanStack Query represents a comprehensive asynchronous state management solution for web applications that handles server-state utilities and data fetching operations. The vulnerability exists within the @tanstack/react-query-next-experimental npm package which is part of this ecosystem. This package specifically targets next-generation web applications and incorporates experimental features that may introduce additional attack surface areas. The cross-site scripting vulnerability manifests when malicious input is processed through the package's data handling mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to inject harmful scripts into web applications that utilize this library. The security flaw stems from insufficient input sanitization and output encoding within the package's handling of asynchronous data responses and state management operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-provided data within the package's rendering and state update processes. When the package receives data from external endpoints or user inputs, it fails to properly sanitize or escape potentially malicious content before incorporating it into the application's DOM structure. This creates an environment where attackers can inject script tags, event handlers, or other malicious code that executes in the context of the victim's browser. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the data fetching and state management layer, meaning that any application using this package for data handling is potentially exposed to this attack vector. The flaw can be exploited through various means including direct input injection, manipulation of API endpoints that return untrusted data, or by compromising the server-side data sources that feed into the application's state management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection attacks as it can enable more sophisticated exploitation techniques such as session hijacking, data exfiltration, and full application compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially access user sessions, steal sensitive information, modify application behavior, or redirect users to malicious websites. The scope of potential damage increases when considering that TanStack Query is widely adopted across modern web applications, making this vulnerability potentially exploitable across numerous applications and organizations. The experimental nature of the affected package suggests that the security review and testing may have been insufficient, highlighting gaps in the security validation process for new features. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) as a critical security weakness in web applications where untrusted data is improperly handled during web page generation.
Organizations utilizing this package should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to version 5.18.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all applications using the affected package and ensure that the upgrade process does not introduce compatibility issues. Additional mitigations include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, regular security scanning of dependencies, and monitoring for suspicious data patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in the newer version likely includes proper sanitization of data before rendering, input validation at multiple layers, and enhanced output encoding to prevent script injection. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves modifying or corrupting existing programs, and demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in third-party libraries that handle user data and asynchronous operations. Organizations should also consider implementing dependency monitoring solutions to track security advisories for all npm packages in their application stack to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced through third-party components.