CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-32006NVD status: Modified

Node: Protection Mechanism Failure

CVE-2023-32006 is a high-severity protection mechanism failure vulnerability in Node from Node.js, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 4.*, 5.*, 6.* as the first without the flaw, so updating Node to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.54% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 75% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Node to 4.* or 5.* or 6.* or 7.*, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Node.jsNode4.0 up to, but not including, 4.*; 5.0 up to, but not including, 5.*; 6.0 up to, but not including, 6.*; 7.0 up to, but not including, 7.*; 8.0 up to, but not including, 8.*; 9.0 up to, but not including, 9.*; 10.0 up to, but not including, 10.*; 11.0 up to, but not including, 11.*; and 9 more ranges4.*, 5.*, 6.*, 7.*, 8.*, 9.*
Node.jsNode.js16.0.0 through 16.20.1; 18.0.0 through 18.17.0; 20.0.0 through 20.5.0Not stated
Fedora ProjectFedora37; 38Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. 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
LowA basic user account is enough.
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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.8HighNVD
CVSS 3.18.8HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

The use of `module.constructor.createRequire()` can bypass the policy mechanism and require modules outside of the policy.json definition for a given module. This vulnerability affects all users using the experimental policy mechanism in all active release lines: 16.x, 18.x, and, 20.x. Please note that at the time this CVE was issued, the policy is an experimental feature of Node.js.

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

The underlying weakness: Protection Mechanism Failure

The product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product.

More Protection Mechanism Failure vulnerabilities (CWE-693)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Node

All Node vulnerabilities

Recent Protection Mechanism Failure vulnerabilities

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