CVE-2018-14732: Webpack dev server Missing Origin Validation Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-cf66-xwfp-gvc4
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-14732 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) missing origin validation vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Webpack dev server libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves missing origin validation in webpack-dev-server. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.1.11.

CVE-2018-14732 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-14732
GHSA Identifier GHSA-cf66-xwfp-gvc4
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Webpack dev server
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

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 None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2018-14732

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

webpack-dev-server fixed: 3.1.11 
npm install webpack-dev-server@3.1.11
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 webpack-dev-server

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2018-14732, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls webpack-dev-server

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Webpack dev server in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.1.11), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls webpack-dev-server 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Webpack dev server, 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

Versions of `webpack-dev-server` before 3.1.10 are missing origin validation on the websocket server. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to steal a developer's source code because the origin of requests to the websocket server that is used for Hot Module Replacement (HMR) are not validated. ## Recommendation For `webpack-dev-server` update to version 3.1.11 or later.

CVE-2018-14732 Affected Webpack dev server Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.1.11
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
webpack-dev-server
npm/webpack-dev-server
npm
< 3.1.11
3.1.11

References

NVD — CVE-2018-14732 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14732
Webpack dev server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/issues/1445
Webpack dev server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/issues/1620
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/commit/f18e5adf123221a1015be63e1ca2491ca45b8d10
Webpack dev server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server
Webpack dev server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md#3111-2018-12-21
www.npmjs.com/advisories/725 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/725

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-14732?
CVE-2018-14732 is a security vulnerability in Webpack dev server involving Missing Origin Validation in webpack-dev-server under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Webpack dev server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.1.11 across affected packages: webpack-dev-server.
What version fixes CVE-2018-14732?
Upgrading to 3.1.11 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is webpack-dev-server affected?
Yes, webpack-dev-server is affected in releases prior to 3.1.11. Upgrade your dependency to 3.1.11 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-14732?
CVE-2018-14732 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-14732?
CVE-2018-14732 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2018-14732?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls webpack-dev-server'. 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-cf66-xwfp-gvc4",
  "modified" : "2022-04-06T20:39:38Z",
  "published" : "2019-01-04T17:40:59Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2018-14732" ],
  "summary" : "Missing Origin Validation in webpack-dev-server",
  "details" : "Versions of `webpack-dev-server` before 3.1.10 are missing origin validation on the websocket server. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to steal a developer's source code because the origin of requests to the websocket server that is used for Hot Module Replacement (HMR) are not validated.\n\n\n## Recommendation\nFor `webpack-dev-server` update to version 3.1.11 or later.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "webpack-dev-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.1.11"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14732"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/issues/1445"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/issues/1620"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/commit/f18e5adf123221a1015be63e1ca2491ca45b8d10"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md#3111-2018-12-21"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/725"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:31:15Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}