CocoaPods: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component
CVE-2024-38366 is a critical-severity improper neutralization of special elements in output used by a downstream component vulnerability in CocoaPods, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 10.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 001cc3a430e75a16307f5fd6cdff1363ad2f40f3 as the first without the flaw, so updating CocoaPods to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 17.8% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 2.79% of all scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update CocoaPods to 001cc3a430e75a16307f5fd6cdff1363ad2f40f3 or a later version.
- Update Trunk.cocoapods.org to 2023-09-22 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on blog.cocoapods.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| CocoaPods | CocoaPods | < 001cc3a430e75a16307f5fd6cdff1363ad2f40f3; before 001cc3a430e75a16307f5fd6cdff1363ad2f40f3 | 001cc3a430e75a16307f5fd6cdff1363ad2f40f3 |
| Cocoapods | Trunk.cocoapods.org | before 2023-09-22 | 2023-09-22 |
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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 10.0 | Critical | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 10.0 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
trunk.cocoapods.org is the authentication server for the CoacoaPods dependency manager. The part of trunk which verifies whether a user has a real email address on signup used a rfc-822 library which executes a shell command to validate the email domain MX records validity. It works via an DNS MX. This lookup could be manipulated to also execute a command on the trunk server, effectively giving root access to the server and the infrastructure. This issue was patched server-side with commit 001cc3a430e75a16307f5fd6cdff1363ad2f40f3 in September 2023. This RCE triggered a full user-session reset, as an attacker could have used this method to write to any Podspec in trunk.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component
The product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Programming languages and supporting technologies might be chosen which are not subject to these issues.
- Utilize an appropriate mix of allowlist and denylist parsing to filter control-plane syntax from all input.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)
- evasec.webflow.io/blog/eva-discovered-supply-chain-vulnerabities-in-cocoapods#2-remote-code-execution-on-the-…Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in CocoaPods
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
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