CVE-2023-49210: Openssl Openssl Npm Package Vulnerable To Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-75w2-qv55-x7fv
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-77
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-49210 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) openssl npm package vulnerable to vulnerability (CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')) affecting Openssl libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves openssl npm package vulnerable to command execution. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2023-49210 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-49210
GHSA Identifier GHSA-75w2-qv55-x7fv
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
Affected Product Openssl
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-49210

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Openssl dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openssl fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install openssl@Latest secure release
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls openssl

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2023-49210, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls openssl

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Openssl in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls openssl command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended command when it is sent to a downstream component. In Openssl, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

The openssl (aka node-openssl) NPM package through 2.0.0 was characterized as "a nonsense wrapper with no real purpose" by its author, and accepts an opts argument that contains a verb field (used for command execution). NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.

CVE-2023-49210 Affected Openssl Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openssl
npm/openssl
npm
≤ 2.0.0

References

NVD — CVE-2023-49210 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-49210
Openssl Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://gist.github.com/mcoimbra/b05a55a5760172dccaa0a827647ad63e
Openssl Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/tree/main/malicious/npm
www.npmjs.com/package/openssl WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/package/openssl

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-49210?
CVE-2023-49210 is a security vulnerability in Openssl involving openssl npm package vulnerable to command execution under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection').
Which Openssl versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: openssl.
What version fixes CVE-2023-49210?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openssl affected?
Yes, openssl is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-49210?
CVE-2023-49210 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-49210?
CVE-2023-49210 is classified under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2023-49210?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls openssl'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-75w2-qv55-x7fv",
  "modified" : "2023-11-30T22:05:44Z",
  "published" : "2023-11-23T21:30:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-49210" ],
  "summary" : "openssl npm package vulnerable to command execution",
  "details" : "The openssl (aka node-openssl) NPM package through 2.0.0 was characterized as \"a nonsense wrapper with no real purpose\" by its author, and accepts an opts argument that contains a verb field (used for command execution). NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "openssl"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "2.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-49210"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://gist.github.com/mcoimbra/b05a55a5760172dccaa0a827647ad63e"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ossf/malicious-packages/tree/main/malicious/npm"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/package/openssl"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-77" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-11-27T23:23:40Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-11-23T20:15:07Z"
  }
}