CVE-2021-23353 : Security Advisory and Response

Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) vulnerability has been discovered in the 'jspdf' package before version 2.3.1. An attacker can exploit this by using the addImage function.

Understanding CVE-2021-23353

This CVE-2021-23353 vulnerability impacts the 'jspdf' package before version 2.3.1, allowing for ReDoS through the addImage function.

What is CVE-2021-23353?

CVE-2021-23353 is a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) vulnerability found in jspdf package versions earlier than 2.3.1. This type of vulnerability could lead to a denial of service condition due to inefficient regex implementation.

The Impact of CVE-2021-23353

The impact of CVE-2021-23353 is rated as MEDIUM severity with a CVSS base score of 5.9. It could lead to a denial of service attack on systems using the vulnerable jspdf package. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring user interaction.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-23353

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE-2021-23353 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the jspdf package before version 2.3.1, where the addImage function is not properly sanitized, allowing for a ReDoS attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Systems using jspdf versions prior to 2.3.1 are vulnerable to exploitation. Users should upgrade to a version beyond this to mitigate the risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specific input that triggers excessive backtracking in the regex engine, causing the application to hang or become unresponsive.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2021-23353, users must follow specific mitigation strategies and adopt preventive measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update the jspdf package to version 2.3.1 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. Additionally, it is advisable to review and restrict user input that may trigger ReDoS.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices, including input validation and output encoding, to prevent regex vulnerabilities like ReDoS. Regular security audits and code reviews are crucial for detecting and fixing such issues.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates for the jspdf package. Regularly monitor security advisories and apply patches promptly to keep systems secure.