CVE-2025-23061 - Mongoose.js Search Injection Vulnerability due to Incomplete Fix for CVE-2024-53900

A recently discovered vulnerability, CVE-2025-23061, affects Mongoose, a popular MongoDB Object Data Modeling (ODM) library used in several applications and projects. The vulnerability relates to Mongoose's improper usage of the nested $where filter with a populate() match, leading to potential search injection attacks. This issue exists because of an incomplete fix for a previously reported security vulnerability, CVE-2024-53900.

Exploit Details

In Mongoose.js, the populate() function allows developers to query data from another collection based on a specific field that acts as a reference. The issue arises when a nested $where filter is used in conjunction with a populate() match, which enables attackers to perform search injection attacks.

To better understand the vulnerability, let's take a look at the following code snippet

const PostSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
  title: String,
  author: { type: mongoose.Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: 'User' },
});

const UserSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
  username: String,
});

const Post = mongoose.model('Post', PostSchema);
const User = mongoose.model('User', UserSchema);

// Unsafe search using $where in populate match
await Post.find({})
  .populate({
    path: 'author',
    match: {
      $where: 'function() { return this.username.includes("' + searchTerm + '") }',
    },
  });

In the example above, an attacker could manipulate the searchTerm variable to inject malicious code and manipulate the search results by passing a specially crafted string.

Original References

Link: Mongoose Official Documentation
Link: GitHub Issue #10454

Mitigation

The issue has been identified and fixed in Mongoose version 8.9.5. To mitigate the vulnerability and protect your applications, it is strongly advised to upgrade Mongoose to the latest version.

npm update mongoose

Additionally, consider implementing proper input validation and follow secure coding practices to reduce the potential impact of search injections.

Conclusion

CVE-2025-23061 is a critical vulnerability that results from an incomplete fix for the previous CVE-2024-53900 issue. The improper handling of the nested $where filter with a populate() match can lead to search injection attacks if not addressed. It is essential for developers using Mongoose to ensure they update to the latest version and adopt secure coding practices to protect their applications and users.

Timeline

Published on: 01/15/2025 05:15:10 UTC