CVE-2024-52809 in vue-i18n
Summary
by MITRE • 11/29/2024
vue-i18n is an internationalization plugin for Vue.js. In affected versions vue-i18n can be passed locale messages to `createI18n` or `useI18n`. When locale message ASTs are generated in development mode there is a possibility of Cross-site Scripting attack. This issue has been addressed in versions 9.14.2, and 10.0.5. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The vue-i18n library serves as a critical internationalization solution for Vue.js applications, enabling developers to manage multilingual user interfaces seamlessly. This vulnerability affects versions of the library where locale messages can be passed directly to the createI18n or useI18n functions. The security flaw manifests specifically in development mode environments where locale message Abstract Syntax Trees are generated, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability represents a significant concern for applications that rely on dynamic message handling and user-provided content within their internationalization frameworks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of locale message data when processing AST generation in development environments. When developers pass user-controlled or externally sourced locale messages through the createI18n or useI18n functions, the library's internal processing logic fails to properly validate or escape potentially malicious content. This oversight allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute within the browser context of applications using the vulnerable library. The Cross-site Scripting attack vector arises from the improper handling of locale message data during the AST construction phase, where unescaped content can be interpreted as executable JavaScript code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts. Applications using vulnerable versions of vue-i18n are particularly at risk when they incorporate user-generated content or third-party message catalogs, as these sources may contain malicious payloads designed to exploit the XSS vulnerability. The development mode exposure creates additional risk since many applications may run in development environments during testing phases, potentially exposing users to attacks even before production deployment. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that dynamically load internationalization messages and do not implement additional input validation measures.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566 (Phishing) and T1211 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation). The remediation strategy requires immediate upgrading to versions 9.14.2 or 10.0.5, as these releases contain proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms for locale message processing. Organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their Vue.js applications to identify all instances of vue-i18n usage and ensure proper version alignment. Due to the lack of workarounds, defensive measures are limited to immediate patching, making this vulnerability particularly critical for organizations with active development cycles. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in internationalization libraries and underscores the need for proper security testing in development environments where such libraries operate.