CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-27140NVD status: Modified

Express-fileupload: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-27140 is a critical-severity unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type vulnerability in Express-fileupload from Express-fileupload Project, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Express-fileupload versions: 1.3.1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.86% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 87% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Express-fileupload you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Express-fileupload ProjectExpress-fileupload1.3.1Not stated

Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD
CVSS 2.07.5HighNVD

Official description

An arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the file upload module of express-fileupload 1.3.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PHP file. NOTE: the vendor's position is that the observed behavior can only occur with "intentional misusing of the API": the express-fileupload middleware is not responsible for an application's business logic (e.g., determining whether or how a file should be renamed).

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type

The product allows the upload or transfer of dangerous file types that are automatically processed within its environment.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Generate a new, unique filename for an uploaded file instead of using the user-supplied filename, so that no external input is used at all.
  • When the set of acceptable objects, such as filenames or URLs, is limited or known, create a mapping from a set of fixed input values (such as numeric IDs) to the actual filenames or URLs, and reject all other inputs.
  • Consider storing the uploaded files outside of the web document root entirely. Then, use other mechanisms to deliver the files dynamically.

More Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerabilities (CWE-434)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)

Other vulnerabilities in Express-fileupload

All Express-fileupload vulnerabilities

Recent Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerabilities

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