CVE-2021-41580 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2021-41580 impacting passport-oauth2 in Node.js. Find out the potential risks, affected systems, exploitation mechanisms, and mitigation steps.
The passport-oauth2 package before 1.6.1 for Node.js mishandles the error condition of failure to obtain an access token, potentially leading to exploitable scenarios.
Understanding CVE-2021-41580
What is CVE-2021-41580?
The vulnerability in the passport-oauth2 package allows for exploitation in specific scenarios where an OAuth identity provider reports authentication failure using an HTTP 200 status code, and an application grants authorization without confirming token usage.
The Impact of CVE-2021-41580
The mishandling of the error condition may result in unauthorized access or other security risks, highlighting a potential loophole in certain OAuth authentication processes.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-41580
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from the package's failure to adequately handle the inability to acquire an access token, enabling unauthorized access in certain cases.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected system: Node.js with passport-oauth2 package versions prior to 1.6.1
Exploitation Mechanism
- An OAuth provider uses an HTTP 200 status code to report authentication failure
- Applications mistakenly grant authorization without verifying token usage
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade to version 1.6.1 or later of the passport-oauth2 package
- Verify token usage before granting authorization
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly review and update OAuth authentication processes
- Implement multi-factor authentication for an additional security layer
- Conduct security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches and updates promptly to address security flaws in dependencies