CVE-2024-39693 in next.js
Summary
by MITRE • 07/10/2024
Next.js is a React framework. A Denial of Service (DoS) condition was identified in Next.js. Exploitation of the bug can trigger a crash, affecting the availability of the server. his vulnerability was resolved in Next.js 13.5 and later.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-39693 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Next.js framework, a popular React-based web application framework used extensively across enterprise and commercial environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the server-side rendering and request processing mechanisms that form the backbone of Next.js applications. The flaw manifests when the framework fails to properly handle certain malformed or specially crafted requests, leading to uncontrolled resource consumption and subsequent service disruption. Organizations relying on Next.js for their web applications face significant operational risks as this vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to systematically degrade or completely disable server availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Next.js request handling pipeline, particularly in how the framework processes specific URL patterns or request parameters. When exploited, the vulnerability triggers a condition where the application server enters an infinite loop or consumes excessive memory resources, ultimately resulting in application crashes and service unavailability. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes improper resource management and uncontrolled resource consumption as primary contributors to denial of service conditions. The flaw operates at the application layer, affecting the framework's core HTTP request processing capabilities and demonstrating how seemingly minor input validation gaps can escalate into severe operational disruptions.
From an operational impact perspective, the vulnerability poses substantial risks to organizations utilizing Next.js applications in production environments, particularly those serving high-traffic websites or mission-critical services. The DoS condition can be triggered through simple network requests, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and reliability of web services, potentially leading to revenue loss, customer dissatisfaction, and damage to brand reputation. The attack surface extends to any Next.js application running versions prior to 13.5, affecting deployments across various hosting environments including cloud platforms, containerized applications, and traditional server deployments.
Organizations should immediately prioritize the deployment of Next.js version 13.5 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as this represents the official fix provided by the framework maintainers. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected applications within their infrastructure and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should include network-level protections such as rate limiting and request filtering to prevent exploitation while the permanent fix is deployed. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date dependencies and implementing robust security testing practices including dynamic application security testing and penetration testing to identify similar issues before they can be exploited in production environments. The remediation process should follow established security protocols and include thorough regression testing to ensure that the update does not introduce compatibility issues with existing application functionality.