CVE-2021-33623 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in the trim-newlines package for Node.js could allow an attacker to perform regular expression denial-of-service (ReDoS) attacks. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for CVE-2021-33623.

Understanding CVE-2021-33623

The trim-newlines package before 3.0.1 and 4.x before 4.0.1 for Node.js has an issue related to regular expression denial-of-service (ReDoS) for the .end() method.

What is CVE-2021-33623?

CVE-2021-33623 is a vulnerability in the trim-newlines package for Node.js that can be exploited by an attacker to launch regular expression denial-of-service (ReDoS) attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2021-33623

This vulnerability could lead to a significant impact on the availability of Node.js applications by causing a denial-of-service condition through excessive CPU consumption.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-33623

Get insights into the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism for CVE-2021-33623.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in trim-newlines package allows malicious actors to craft special input that triggers the ReDoS vulnerability in the .end() method, leading to resource exhaustion.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of the trim-newlines package before 3.0.1 and 4.x before 4.0.1 for Node.js are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted input to the .end() method, causing it to enter an inefficient loop and consume excessive CPU resources.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the immediate steps to take and long-term security practices to protect your systems from this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to update the trim-newlines package to version 3.0.1 or 4.0.1 to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Additionally, monitor the CPU usage of Node.js applications for any unusual spikes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation mechanisms, limit the complexity of regular expressions, and stay informed about security updates for third-party packages to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure regular updates and patches for all dependencies, including the trim-newlines package, to address any newly discovered vulnerabilities and enhance the overall security posture of your Node.js applications.