CVE-2025-66030: Node-Forge Vulnerability In V0.10.0

by Alex Johnson 52 views

This article delves into the CVE-2025-66030, a medium-severity vulnerability detected in the node-forge-0.10.0.tgz library. We will explore the details of this vulnerability, its potential impact, and the recommended steps to mitigate it. Understanding such vulnerabilities is crucial for developers and organizations to maintain the security and integrity of their applications.

Vulnerability Overview

The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-66030, affects the node-forge library, specifically version 0.10.0. node-forge is a JavaScript implementation of network transports, cryptography, ciphers, PKI, message digests, and various utilities. This library is widely used in various applications for cryptographic functionalities. The vulnerability is classified as medium severity, indicating a potential risk that needs to be addressed promptly.

Vulnerable Library Details

  • Library Name: node-forge
  • Vulnerable Version: 0.10.0
  • Package: node-forge-0.10.0.tgz
  • Home Page: https://registry.npmjs.org/node-forge/-/node-forge-0.10.0.tgz
  • Dependency File Path: /templates/react-website-template/app/package.json
  • Vulnerable Library Path: /templates/react-website-template/app/node_modules/node-forge/package.json

Dependency Hierarchy

The vulnerability exists within a specific dependency chain, which is crucial to understand the context of the risk. The dependency hierarchy is as follows:

  • react-scripts-2.1.8.tgz (Root Library)
    • webpack-dev-server-3.1.14.tgz
      • selfsigned-1.10.14.tgz
        • :x: node-forge-0.10.0.tgz (Vulnerable Library)

This hierarchy illustrates that the vulnerable node-forge library is a dependency of selfsigned, which is a dependency of webpack-dev-server, and ultimately a dependency of the root library, react-scripts. This means that applications using react-scripts version 2.1.8 or earlier, and which rely on these dependencies, are potentially at risk.

Affected Branch

  • The vulnerability was found in the develop branch, indicating that development versions of the application are affected. This highlights the importance of addressing the vulnerability before it propagates to production environments.

Vulnerability Details: The Integer Overflow

The core of CVE-2025-66030 lies in an integer overflow vulnerability. This type of vulnerability occurs when a mathematical operation results in a value that exceeds the maximum size that the storage location (an integer) can hold. This overflow can lead to unexpected behavior, including security bypasses.

Technical Explanation

In node-forge versions 1.3.1 and below, an integer overflow can occur when processing Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) structures. ASN.1 is a standard interface description language used for data serialization and is widely used in cryptography. The vulnerability allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to craft ASN.1 structures containing Object Identifiers (OIDs) with oversized arcs.

OIDs are hierarchical identifiers used to name objects or concepts in various standards. These identifiers are composed of a series of arcs, which are integer values. The vulnerability arises because these oversized arcs can be decoded as smaller, trusted OIDs due to 32-bit bitwise truncation. This truncation means that the most significant bits of the oversized value are discarded, resulting in a smaller, potentially malicious, OID being interpreted as a legitimate one.

Impact of the Vulnerability

The ability to manipulate OIDs in this manner allows attackers to bypass downstream OID-based security decisions. For instance, if a system relies on OIDs to determine the trust level of a certificate or cryptographic operation, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to impersonate a trusted entity or bypass security checks. This can lead to serious security breaches, including unauthorized access, data compromise, and system takeover.

Publication and References

This information provides a clear timeline and a reliable source for further details on the vulnerability.

CVSS 3 Score Details

The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is a standardized method for assessing the severity of software vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-66030 has a CVSS 3 score of 5.3, which categorizes it as a Medium severity vulnerability. Let's break down the components of this score to understand the implications.

Base Score Metrics

The Base Score represents the intrinsic characteristics of the vulnerability, independent of environmental factors. It is composed of exploitability metrics and impact metrics.

Exploitability Metrics

  • Attack Vector: Network (N)
    • This indicates that the vulnerability can be exploited over a network, meaning an attacker does not need local access to the system. This significantly increases the potential attack surface.
  • Attack Complexity: Low (L)
    • A low attack complexity means that the vulnerability is relatively easy to exploit. It does not require specialized access conditions or mitigating factors.
  • Privileges Required: None (N)
    • This is a critical factor, as it means an attacker does not need any privileges or credentials to exploit the vulnerability. Anyone can potentially trigger the vulnerability.
  • User Interaction: None (N)
    • No user interaction is required to trigger the vulnerability. The attacker can exploit the vulnerability without any actions from the user.
  • Scope: Unchanged (U)
    • An unchanged scope means that the vulnerability only affects the component in which it exists and does not allow the attacker to compromise other components or systems.

Impact Metrics

  • Confidentiality Impact: None (N)
    • Exploiting this vulnerability does not directly lead to a compromise of confidential information.
  • Integrity Impact: Low (L)
    • There is a low impact on data integrity. An attacker could potentially modify data, but the scope of the modification is limited.
  • Availability Impact: None (N)
    • The vulnerability does not directly cause a denial-of-service or impact the availability of the system.

Interpretation of the Score

The CVSS 3 score of 5.3 suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it still poses a significant risk. The network attack vector, low attack complexity, and lack of required privileges make it relatively easy to exploit. The low integrity impact means that while data can be modified, the scope of damage is limited. Organizations should address this vulnerability promptly to prevent potential security breaches.

Further Information

For more detailed information on CVSS 3 scores and how they are calculated, refer to the CVSS 3.0 Calculator.

Suggested Fix and Mitigation

Addressing vulnerabilities promptly is essential to maintaining a secure system. For CVE-2025-66030 in node-forge, the suggested fix is to upgrade to a version that includes the patch for this vulnerability.

Upgrade Recommendation

The recommended action is to upgrade to node-forge version 1.3.2 or later. This version includes a patch that addresses the integer overflow vulnerability, preventing attackers from exploiting it.

Steps to Upgrade

  1. Identify Affected Dependencies:

    • Use your package manager (e.g., npm, yarn) to identify the dependency chain that includes the vulnerable node-forge version. You can use commands like npm list node-forge or yarn why node-forge to trace the dependencies.

  2. Update node-forge:

    • Update the node-forge dependency in your project's package.json file to version 1.3.2 or later. For example:
    "dependencies": {
... 
"node-forge": "^1.3.2", 
... 
}

  3. Run Package Manager Install:

    • Run npm install or yarn install to update the dependencies in your project.

  4. Verify the Update:

    • After the installation, verify that the node-forge version is updated to 1.3.2 or later in your node_modules directory.

  5. Test Your Application:

    • Thoroughly test your application to ensure that the update has not introduced any regressions or compatibility issues.

Additional Mitigation Strategies

While upgrading is the primary solution, consider these additional strategies to enhance your application's security posture:

  • Regular Dependency Audits:
    • Implement regular dependency audits using tools like npm audit or yarn audit to identify and address known vulnerabilities in your project's dependencies.
  • Dependency Management Tools:
    • Use dependency management tools and practices to keep your dependencies up-to-date and to track and manage vulnerabilities.
  • Security Scanning:
    • Integrate security scanning tools into your CI/CD pipeline to automatically detect vulnerabilities in your code and dependencies.
  • Web Application Firewalls (WAFs):
    • Consider using a WAF to add an extra layer of security to your application by filtering out malicious traffic and preventing common attacks.

Conclusion

The CVE-2025-66030 vulnerability in node-forge-0.10.0 highlights the importance of staying vigilant about security risks in software dependencies. The integer overflow vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to bypass security measures, making it crucial to address this issue promptly. By upgrading to node-forge version 1.3.2 or later, developers can mitigate this risk and ensure the security of their applications.

In addition to upgrading, adopting a proactive approach to security, including regular dependency audits and the use of security scanning tools, is essential for maintaining a robust security posture. Prioritizing security best practices helps protect applications from a wide range of potential threats and vulnerabilities.

For more information on web security best practices, you can visit the OWASP Foundation website. This resource provides valuable insights and guidance on securing web applications.