CVE-2023-2251: Yaml Uncaught Exception Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f9xv-q969-pqx4
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-248
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-2251 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) uncaught exception vulnerability (CWE-248: Uncaught Exception) affecting Yaml libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves uncaught exception in yaml. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.2.2.

CVE-2023-2251 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-2251
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f9xv-q969-pqx4
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-248: Uncaught Exception
Affected Product Yaml
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:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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 None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-2251

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

yaml fixed: 2.2.2 
npm install yaml@2.2.2
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 yaml

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2023-2251, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls yaml

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Yaml in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.2.2), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls yaml 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-248: Uncaught Exception, where an exception is thrown from a function, but it is not caught. In Yaml, 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

Uncaught Exception in GitHub repository eemeli/yaml starting at version 2.0.0-5 and prior to 2.2.2.

CVE-2023-2251 Affected Yaml Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.2.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
yaml
npm/yaml
npm
≥ 2.0.0-5
< 2.2.2
2.2.2

References

NVD — CVE-2023-2251 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2251
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/eemeli/yaml/commit/984f5781ffd807e58cad3b5c8da1f940dab75fba
Yaml Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/eemeli/yaml
huntr.dev/bounties/4b494e99-5... WEB
https://huntr.dev/bounties/4b494e99-5a3e-40d9-8678-277f3060e96c

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-2251?
CVE-2023-2251 is a security vulnerability in Yaml involving Uncaught Exception in yaml under CWE-248: Uncaught Exception.
Which Yaml versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.2.2 across affected packages: yaml.
What version fixes CVE-2023-2251?
Upgrading to 2.2.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is yaml affected?
Yes, yaml is affected in releases prior to 2.2.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.2.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-2251?
CVE-2023-2251 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-2251?
CVE-2023-2251 is classified under CWE-248: Uncaught Exception (An exception is thrown from a function, but it is not caught.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2023-2251?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls yaml'. 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-f9xv-q969-pqx4",
  "modified" : "2023-05-03T18:36:52Z",
  "published" : "2023-04-24T15:30:34Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-2251" ],
  "summary" : "Uncaught Exception in yaml",
  "details" : "Uncaught Exception in GitHub repository eemeli/yaml starting at version 2.0.0-5 and prior to 2.2.2.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "yaml"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0-5"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.2.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2251"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/eemeli/yaml/commit/984f5781ffd807e58cad3b5c8da1f940dab75fba"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/eemeli/yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://huntr.dev/bounties/4b494e99-5a3e-40d9-8678-277f3060e96c"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-248" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-04-24T18:05:30Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-04-24T15:15:08Z"
  }
}