Bootstrap-table 1.10.1 Vulnerability: CVE-2021-23472

by Alex Johnson 53 views

In the realm of web development, ensuring the security of libraries and frameworks is paramount. Recently, a vulnerability was identified in bootstrap-table-1.10.1.min.js, a widely used JavaScript library that extends HTML tables with advanced features. This article delves into the details of this vulnerability, its potential impact, and how to address it.

What is bootstrap-table?

First and foremost, let's clarify what bootstrap-table is. It's essentially a powerful JavaScript library designed to enhance standard HTML tables. It seamlessly integrates with popular CSS frameworks like Bootstrap, Semantic UI, Bulma, Material Design, and Foundation, offering a plethora of functionalities such as sorting, filtering, pagination, and more. This makes it a go-to choice for developers looking to create interactive and user-friendly data tables in web applications. The library's versatility and ease of use have contributed to its widespread adoption across numerous projects.

However, like any software component, bootstrap-table is not immune to vulnerabilities. The specific version 1.10.1, which is the focus of this discussion, has been found to contain a security flaw that could potentially be exploited. Understanding the nature of this vulnerability and its implications is crucial for maintaining the security posture of any application that utilizes this library version.

The Vulnerability: CVE-2021-23472

The identified vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2021-23472. This is a low-severity vulnerability with a CVSS score of 3.1. While the severity is considered low, understanding the nature of the vulnerability is crucial for developers to make informed decisions about their applications' security. The core issue lies in a type confusion vulnerability within the escapeHTML function. This function is intended to sanitize user inputs to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, a common type of web security vulnerability.

The vulnerability arises when the escapeHTML function receives an array as input instead of the expected string. In such cases, the input sanitization mechanism can be bypassed, even if the escape attribute is set. This bypass can potentially allow malicious code to be injected into the application, leading to various security risks. Although the CVSS score is low, the potential for exploitation necessitates a careful evaluation of the risk and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.

Technical Details

To elaborate further, the escapeHTML function is designed to convert special characters like <, >, and & into their corresponding HTML entities (&lt;, &gt;, and &amp;, respectively). This process is essential to prevent the browser from interpreting user-supplied data as HTML code, which could lead to XSS attacks. However, when the function encounters an array as input, the standard sanitization logic fails to execute correctly. This means that if an attacker can manipulate the input to be an array, they can potentially inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code into the application.

Impact of the Vulnerability

The impact of CVE-2021-23472 is primarily related to the potential for XSS attacks. While the low severity score might suggest a minimal risk, XSS vulnerabilities can be leveraged to perform a variety of malicious activities, including:

  • Session Hijacking: An attacker could steal a user's session cookie, gaining unauthorized access to their account.
  • Defacement: Malicious code could alter the appearance of the web page, displaying misleading or harmful content.
  • Redirection: Users could be redirected to phishing sites or other malicious destinations.
  • Data Theft: Sensitive information entered by users could be captured and transmitted to an attacker.

While the complexity of exploiting this vulnerability is rated as high, requiring user interaction, the potential consequences warrant taking the necessary precautions. It's essential to remember that even low-severity vulnerabilities can be chained together with other vulnerabilities to create more significant security breaches.

Affected Versions and Remediation

The vulnerability affects versions of bootstrap-table prior to 1.19.1. The good news is that a fix is available in version 1.19.1 and later. Therefore, the recommended course of action is to upgrade to the latest version of bootstrap-table. This will ensure that the vulnerability is patched and your application is protected.

How to Upgrade

The process of upgrading bootstrap-table will depend on your project's setup and dependency management system. In most cases, it will involve updating the version number in your project's configuration file (e.g., package.json for Node.js projects) and then running a command to install the updated dependencies (e.g., npm install or yarn install).

It's always a good practice to test your application thoroughly after upgrading any library or framework. This will help you identify any compatibility issues or unexpected behavior that may arise due to the update. Consider using a staging environment to perform these tests before deploying the changes to production.

Mitigation Strategies

If upgrading to version 1.19.1 is not immediately feasible, there are some mitigation strategies you can consider to reduce the risk of exploitation:

  • Input Validation: Implement strict input validation on the server-side to ensure that data received from the client is in the expected format. This can help prevent attackers from injecting arrays into the escapeHTML function.
  • Content Security Policy (CSP): Use CSP headers to restrict the sources from which the browser can load resources. This can help mitigate the impact of XSS attacks by preventing the execution of malicious scripts.
  • Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF to detect and block malicious requests before they reach your application. A WAF can provide an additional layer of security by filtering out common attack patterns.

However, it's important to note that these mitigation strategies are not a substitute for upgrading to the patched version. They should be considered temporary measures until you can perform the upgrade.

Conclusion

The vulnerability in bootstrap-table-1.10.1.min.js highlights the importance of staying up-to-date with security patches and best practices. While the severity of CVE-2021-23472 is considered low, the potential for XSS attacks should not be ignored. Upgrading to version 1.19.1 or later is the most effective way to address this vulnerability. In addition, implementing robust input validation, utilizing CSP, and deploying a WAF can further enhance your application's security posture.

Remember, security is an ongoing process. Regularly reviewing your dependencies for known vulnerabilities and applying patches promptly is crucial for maintaining a secure web application. By staying informed and proactive, you can protect your users and your data from potential threats.

For more information on web security best practices, consider exploring resources from trusted organizations like the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP).