CVE-2020-28440: Corenlp js interface Command Injection Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-ffxg-xm4w-3wg9
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-28440 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) command injection vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Corenlp js interface libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves command injection in corenlp-js-interface. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2020-28440 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-28440
GHSA Identifier GHSA-ffxg-xm4w-3wg9
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Corenlp js interface
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-2020-28440

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

corenlp-js-interface fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install corenlp-js-interface@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 corenlp-js-interface

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2020-28440, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls corenlp-js-interface

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Corenlp js interface 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 corenlp-js-interface 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-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In Corenlp js interface, 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

All versions of package corenlp-js-interface are vulnerable to Command Injection via the main function.

CVE-2020-28440 Affected Corenlp js interface Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
corenlp-js-interface
npm/corenlp-js-interface
npm
≤ 1.0.3

References

NVD — CVE-2020-28440 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-28440
snyk.io/vuln/snyk-js-corenl... WEB
https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-CORENLPJSINTERFACE-1050435

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-28440?
CVE-2020-28440 is a security vulnerability in Corenlp js interface involving Command Injection in corenlp-js-interface under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Corenlp js interface versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: corenlp-js-interface.
What version fixes CVE-2020-28440?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is corenlp-js-interface affected?
Yes, corenlp-js-interface 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-2020-28440?
CVE-2020-28440 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-2020-28440?
CVE-2020-28440 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2020-28440?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls corenlp-js-interface'. 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-ffxg-xm4w-3wg9",
  "modified" : "2020-12-17T22:23:13Z",
  "published" : "2020-12-18T18:23:04Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-28440" ],
  "summary" : "Command Injection in corenlp-js-interface",
  "details" : "All versions of package corenlp-js-interface are vulnerable to Command Injection via the main function.",
  "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" : "corenlp-js-interface"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.0.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-28440"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-CORENLPJSINTERFACE-1050435"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-12-17T22:23:13Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-12-11T17:15:00Z"
  }
}