Understanding and Addressing CVE-2024-27088: es5-ext ECMAScript 5 Extensions Function Vulnerability

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A potential security vulnerability (CVE-2024-27088) has been found in the es5-ext library, which is a collection of ECMAScript 5 extensions. This issue exists when passing functions with exceedingly long names or complex default argument names into the function#copy or function#toStringTokens methods. The script could stall, thereby causing potential risk to systems where these particular functions are deployed. This post will provide an insight into the issue and demonstrate how to fix it.

Code Snippet Illustrating the Vulnerability

const es5ext = require('es5-ext');

function vulnerableFunction(parameterNameThatIsExtremelyLongAndComplicated = 'defaultValue') {
  // Function implementation
}

const copiedFunction = vulnerableFunction.copy();
const toStringTokens = vulnerableFunction.toStringTokens();

In the above code snippet, the function name or the default argument name is too long and complex, which may cause script execution to stall when invoking the function#copy or function#toStringTokens methods.

Original References

1. The es5-ext GitHub repository: https://github.com/medikoo/es5-ext
2. The es5-ext NPM package details: https://www.npmjs.com/package/es5-ext
3. The patch release for the vulnerability: https://github.com/medikoo/es5-ext/releases/tag/v.10.63

Exploit Details

The primary impact of this vulnerability is performance degradation due to excessive resource usage, potentially even causing the script to freeze indefinitely. This can lead to denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, where an attacker can exploit the vulnerability by purposely passing a maliciously crafted function to disrupt services.

Mitigation

The es5-ext library has been updated, and the vulnerability is patched in version .10.63. Upgrading to the latest version is strongly recommended to resolve this issue.

To upgrade, simply update your package.json file with the patched version

{
  "dependencies": {
    "es5-ext": "^.10.63"
  }
}

Or, alternatively, use the following command to update the package

npm install es5-ext@^.10.63

Conclusion

While the CVE-2024-27088 vulnerability in es5-ext may not have a critical impact on systems, it is still essential to apply the necessary patches and ensure the security of your applications. By staying informed and proactive, you can defend against potential issues before they turn into significant threats.

Timeline

Published on: 02/26/2024 17:15:11 UTC
Last modified on: 02/26/2024 22:10:40 UTC