CVE-2024-53900: Mongoose Before 8.8.3 Vulnerable to Search Injection Through Improper Usage of $where in Match

Recently, a new security vulnerability has been identified and assigned the identifier CVE-2024-53900. This vulnerability affects the popular MongoDB object modeling library for Node.js, Mongoose, and can be exploited through improper use of the $where operator in the match stage of the query. In versions before 8.8.3, Mongoose allows the use of $where in the match stage, which can lead to search injection. This post aims to provide a detailed analysis, code snippets, and original references to help developers understand and mitigate this issue.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability lies in the improper use of the $where operator in the match stage of a Mongoose query. In affected versions of Mongoose (i.e., before 8.8.3), the $where operator can be used directly within a match stage, which may lead to search injection.

The $where operator can be used to introduce arbitrary JavaScript code within a MongoDB query. When this operator is improperly used within a match stage, an attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code, potentially causing data leaks, corruption, or even complete system compromise.

Code Snippet

Here's an example showing how using the $where operator in the match stage can potentially lead to search injection:

const mongoose = require('mongoose');
const User = mongoose.model('User');

// Assume searchCondition is provided by a user without any validation.
let searchCondition = {
  $where: "this.username === 'admin' && this.password === 'weakpassword'"
};

User.aggregate([
  {
    $match: searchCondition
  }
]).exec((err, users) => {
  // This may return admin users with weak passwords if the attacker succeeds in injecting their malcious code.
  console.log(users);
});

In this example, if the searchCondition is not properly validated and sanitized, an attacker can inject a malicious JavaScript code that can return sensitive user information or cause other severe issues in the system.

Mitigation

To mitigate this issue, it is essential to update your Mongoose library to version 8.8.3 or later. You can do this by using the following command:

npm update mongoose

Additionally, as a best practice, always validate and sanitize user input before using it in your Mongoose queries. Avoid using the $where operator in the match stage to prevent search injection.

Original References

1. Mongoose's GitHub Repository, where the vulnerability was addressed and patched: https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose
2. The relevant GitHub commit that fixed the issue: https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose/commit/20a66550ffaed5035282421f1282908b887eba58

Exploit Details

Although no active exploits have been reported yet, developers must update their Mongoose library and validate user input to prevent potential search injections. Any application that uses the $where operator in the match stage of a Mongoose query is advised to assess their risk, and immediately implement the suggested mitigation steps.

In conclusion, CVE-2024-53900 represents a search injection vulnerability in Mongoose versions before 8.8.3, due to improper use of the $where operator. Updating your Mongoose library, combined with proper validation and sanitization of user input, can help protect your application from potential attacks.

Timeline

Published on: 12/02/2024 20:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 12/04/2024 04:15:04 UTC