CVE-2022-39353 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been identified in the

xmldom

JavaScript module that allows the presence of multiple root nodes in a DOM, potentially leading to security risks for dependents.

Understanding CVE-2022-39353

This CVE, issued on November 2, 2022, affects the

xmldom

module and arises from the incorrect parsing of XML files with multiple top-level elements.

What is CVE-2022-39353?

The vulnerability in

xmldom

allows XML documents with multiple root nodes to be processed without throwing any errors, making it challenging to manage the DOM structure.

The Impact of CVE-2022-39353

The presence of multiple root nodes can disrupt the expected DOM structure, affecting the security and integrity of applications relying on the

xmldom

module.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-39353

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and CWE-1288 (Improper Validation of Consistency within Input) categories.

Vulnerability Description

xmldom

fails to report errors when parsing XML files with multiple top-level elements, storing all roots in the

childNodes

collection, posing a critical risk to data integrity.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions <= 0.6.0, < 0.7.7, >= 0.8.0, < 0.8.4, and >= 0.9.0-beta.1, < 0.9.0-beta.4 of

xmldom

are confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The flaw allows threat actors to exploit the DOM structure of XML files with multiple root nodes, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-39353, users are advised to update to @xmldom/xmldom@~0.7.7, @xmldom/xmldom@~0.8.4, or @xmldom/xmldom@>=0.9.0-beta.4. Additionally, adopt security practices that limit the search scope within the DOM structure to mitigate risks.

Immediate Steps to Take

Consider updating to the latest secure versions of the

xmldom

module and validating XML files' structure before processing.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation mechanisms, restrict document search areas to essential nodes, and enforce strict XML structure validation to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories related to

xmldom

and promptly apply patches and updates to ensure a secure development environment.