CVE-2023-26158 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the package mockjs that can lead to Prototype Pollution, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate object prototypes and introduce malicious attributes.

Understanding CVE-2023-26158

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-26158, outlining the vulnerability, its impact, affected systems, and how to mitigate the associated risks.

What is CVE-2023-26158?

The CVE-2023-26158 vulnerability affects all versions of the mockjs package, allowing for Prototype Pollution through the Util.extend function. This vulnerability stems from the absence of a check to validate if an attribute resolves to the object prototype. Exploiting this flaw enables threat actors to add or modify attributes of an object prototype, potentially compromising the integrity of the software by injecting malicious attributes.

The Impact of CVE-2023-26158

With the ability to manipulate object prototypes, attackers can create attributes that exist across all objects or replace essential attributes with malicious ones. This poses a significant threat, especially when software relies on specific attribute existence or uses predefined attributes of object prototypes, such as hasOwnProperty, toString, or valueOf. The vulnerability can be exploited by inserting user-controlled inputs within the extend() method of various Mock components.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-26158

This section elucidates the technical aspects of CVE-2023-26158, including a vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerable Util.extend function within mockjs allows for the manipulation of object prototypes, leading to potential Prototype Pollution. By not validating attribute resolutions to the object prototype, the door is opened for attackers to compromise the software by adding or altering critical attributes.

Affected Systems and Versions

The CVE-2023-26158 vulnerability impacts all versions of the mockjs package, with a status of "affected" for version 0 and all versions less than "*". This indicates that a wide range of systems using vulnerable versions of mockjs are at risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2023-26158 involves injecting malicious attributes or manipulating object prototypes through user-controlled inputs within the Util.extend function of Mock.Handler, Mock.Random, Mock.RE.Handler, or Mock.Util components. This manipulation can have severe consequences on the software's behavior and integrity.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss the steps that can be taken to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-26158, ensuring the security of systems using the mockjs package.

Immediate Steps to Take

To address CVE-2023-26158 promptly, developers can implement a denylist of dangerous attributes within the Util.extend function. By including specific attributes like "proto", "constructor", and "prototype" in the denylist, the vulnerability can be mitigated effectively.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long run, adopting secure coding practices, such as input validation and output encoding, can bolster the resilience of software against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and code reviews can also help in identifying and addressing potential security loopholes.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial for users of the mockjs package to stay vigilant for security updates and patches released by the vendor. Applying timely updates can help in addressing known vulnerabilities and strengthening the overall security posture of the software environment.