CVE-2024-27982 in Node.js
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2024
The team has identified a critical vulnerability in the http server of the most recent version of Node, where malformed headers can lead to HTTP request smuggling. Specifically, if a space is placed before a content-length header, it is not interpreted correctly, enabling attackers to smuggle in a second request within the body of the first.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27982 represents a critical security flaw in Node.js http server implementation that enables HTTP request smuggling through malformed header handling. This issue specifically targets the parsing logic for content-length headers where the presence of leading whitespace characters before the header definition creates a parsing inconsistency that attackers can exploit to manipulate request boundaries. The vulnerability exists in the core http server module of Node.js, making it particularly dangerous as it affects the fundamental request processing capabilities of applications built on this platform. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-1277 category for HTTP Request Smuggling, which is classified as a critical weakness in web application security.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from how Node.js http server processes header fields during request parsing. When a content-length header contains leading whitespace characters before the actual header definition, the server's header parsing routine fails to correctly interpret the header value, causing it to treat the subsequent request data as part of the body of the first request rather than as a separate request. This parsing inconsistency creates a window where attackers can inject malicious content into the request body that gets interpreted as a second legitimate request by the server. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it leverages the HTTP protocol's inherent complexity in handling header fields and request boundaries, where the standard interpretation of whitespace in header fields should be consistent but isn't properly handled in this implementation.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-27982 extends beyond simple request manipulation and can lead to serious security consequences including cache poisoning, session hijacking, and cross-site request forgery attacks. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to bypass security controls, access restricted resources, or perform unauthorized actions within applications that rely on Node.js http server functionality. The vulnerability affects applications that process HTTP requests through Node.js servers, which includes a vast ecosystem of web applications, APIs, and microservices. Organizations running Node.js applications are particularly at risk since the vulnerability exists in the core server implementation rather than in application code, meaning that even well-written applications can be vulnerable if they use the affected Node.js http server module. This vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol specifically targeting HTTP protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-27982 should focus on immediate patching of Node.js installations to versions that address the header parsing inconsistency. Organizations should also implement strict header validation at the application level, ensuring that all content-length headers are properly formatted without leading whitespace characters. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malformed headers that exhibit the characteristics of this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper request boundary validation and monitoring for unusual header patterns can provide early detection capabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough input validation and proper header parsing in web server implementations, and organizations should review their Node.js applications for any custom HTTP handling code that might be susceptible to similar parsing inconsistencies. Regular security assessments of Node.js applications and implementation of security monitoring tools that can detect anomalous header patterns will help prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in the future.