CVE-2021-23446 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) vulnerability has been identified in versions of Handsontable before 10.0.0. This vulnerability can be exploited through the Handsontable.helper.isNumeric function, potentially leading to a high availability impact.

Understanding CVE-2021-23446

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the Handsontable library that could allow an attacker to launch Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) attacks.

What is CVE-2021-23446?

The package Handsontable versions before 10.0.0 are vulnerable to ReDoS attacks due to improper input validation in the Handsontable.helper.isNumeric function.

The Impact of CVE-2021-23446

With a CVSS base score of 7.5, this vulnerability poses a high risk in terms of availability, potentially allowing remote attackers to trigger denial of service conditions.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-23446

This section outlines the technical details of the CVE, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the handsontable package versions prior to 10.0.0, allowing attackers to perform ReDoS attacks via the Handsontable.helper.isNumeric function.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions of the Handsontable package ranging from 0 to 10.0.0 are impacted by this vulnerability and are susceptible to ReDoS exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting specific inputs to the Handsontable.helper.isNumeric function, leading to resource-intensive computations and potential denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-23446, it is essential to take immediate steps and implement long-term security practices, including timely patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to a version of Handsontable that is equal to or greater than 10.0.0 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor security advisories and patches from the Handsontable project.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update dependencies and libraries to stay protected against known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security testing and code reviews to identify and remediate potential security issues.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates released by Handsontable and promptly apply patches to ensure protection against ReDoS attacks.