CVE-2024-43414: Apollo router Apollo Query Planner And Apollo Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fmj9-77q8-g6c4
CVSS 7.5
CWE-674 CWE-673
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-43414 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) apollo query planner and apollo vulnerability (CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion) affecting Apollo router libraries in the crates.io ecosystem. The issue involves apollo query planner and apollo gateway may infinitely loop on sufficiently complex queries. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.52.1, 2.8.5.

CVE-2024-43414 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-43414
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fmj9-77q8-g6c4
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion
Affected Product Apollo router
Package Ecosystem crates.io
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-2024-43414

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

apollo-router fixed: 1.52.1
Upgrade apollo-router to 1.52.1
@apollo/query-planner fixed: 2.8.5
npm install @apollo/query-planner@2.8.5
@apollo/gateway fixed: 2.8.5
npm install @apollo/gateway@2.8.5
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

inspect dependencies for apollo-router

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2024-43414, inspect your project dependencies for Apollo router:

inspect dependencies for apollo-router

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apollo router in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.52.1), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion, where the product does not properly control the amount of recursion that takes place, consuming excessive resources, such as allocated memory or the program stack. In Apollo router, 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

### Impact Instances of @apollo/query-planner >=2.0.0 and <2.8.5 are impacted by a denial-of-service vulnerability. @apollo/gateway versions >=2.0.0 and < 2.8.5 and Apollo Router <1.52.1 are also impacted through their use of @apollo/query-planner. If @apollo/query-planner is asked to plan a sufficiently complex query, it may loop infinitely and never complete. This results in unbounded memory consumption and either a crash or out-of-memory (OOM) termination. This issue can be triggered if you have at least one non-`@key` field that can be resolved by multiple subgraphs. To identify these shared fields, the schema for each subgraph must be reviewed. The mechanism to identify shared fields varies based on the version of Federation your subgraphs are using. You can check if your subgraphs are using Federation 1 or Federation 2 by reviewing their schemas. Federation 2 subgraph schemas will contain a `@link` directive referencing the version of Federation being used while Federation 1 subgraphs will not. For example, in a Federation 2 subgraph, you will find a line like `@link(url: "https://specs.apollo.dev/federation/v2.0")`. If a similar `@link` directive is not present in your subgraph schema, it is using Federation 1. Note that a supergraph can contain a mix of Federation 1 and Federation 2 subgraphs. **To review Federation 1 subgraphs for impact:** In Federation 1 subgraphs, fields are implicitly shareable across subgraphs. To review for impact, you will need to review for cases where multiple subgraphs can resolve the same field. For example: ```graphql # Subgraph 1 type Query { field: Int } # Subgraph 2 type Query { field: Int } ``` **To review Federation 2 subgraphs for impact:** In Federation 2 subgraphs, fields must be explicitly defined as shareable across subgraphs. This is done via the `@shareable` directive. For example: ```graphql # Subgraph 1 @link(url: "https://specs.apollo.dev/federation/v2.0") type Query { field: Int @shareable } # Subgraph 2 @link(url: "https://specs.apollo.dev/federation/v2.0") type Query { field: Int @shareable } ``` ### Impact Detail This issue results from the Apollo query planner attempting to use a `Number` exceeding Javascript’s `Number.MAX_VALUE` in some cases. In Javascript, `Number.MAX_VALUE` is (2^1024 - 2^971). When the query planner receives an inbound graphql request, it breaks the query into pieces and for each piece, generates a list of potential execution steps to solve the piece. These candidates represent the steps that the query planner will take to satisfy the pieces of the larger query. As part of normal operations, the query planner requires and calculates the number of possible query plans for the total query. That is, it needs the product of the number of query plan candidates for each piece of the query. Under normal circumstances, after generating all query plan candidates and calculating the number of all permutations, the query planner moves on to stack rank candidates and prune less-than-optimal options. In particularly complex queries, especially those where fields can be solved through multiple subgraphs, this can cause the number of all query plan permutations to balloon. In worst-case scenarios, this can end up being a number larger than `Number.MAX_VALUE`. In Javascript, if `Number.MAX_VALUE` is exceeded, Javascript represents the value as “infinity”. If the count of candidates is evaluated as infinity, the component of the query planner responsible for pruning less-than-optimal query plans does not actually prune candidates, causing the query planner to evaluate many orders of magnitude more query plan candidates than necessary. A given graph’s exposure to this issue varies based on its complexity. Consider the following Federation 2 subgraphs: ```graphql # Subgraph 1 type Query { field: Int @shareable } # Subgraph 2 type Query { field: Int @shareable } ``` The query planner can solve requests for `Query.field` in one of two ways - either by querying subgraph 1 or subgraph 2. The following query with 1024 aliased fields would trigger this issue because 2^1024 > `Number.MAX_VALUE`: ```graphql query { field_1: field field_2: field # ... field_1023: field field_1024: field } ``` However, in a graph that provided 5 options to solve a given field, the bug could be encountered in a query that aliased the field approximately 440 times. ### Patches @apollo/query-planner 2.8.5 @apollo/gateway 2.8.5 Apollo Router 1.52.1 ### Workarounds This issue can be avoided by ensuring there are no fields resolvable from multiple subgraphs. If all subgraphs are using Federation 2, you can confirm that you are not impacted by ensuring that none of your subgraph schemas use the `@shareable` directive. If you are using Federation 1 subgraphs, you will need to validate that there are no fields resolvable by multiple subgraphs. Note that a supergraph can contain a mix of Federation 1 and Federation 2 subgraphs. If you do have fields resolvable by multiple subgraphs, changing this behavior in response to this issue may be risky to the operation of your supergraph. We recommend that you update to a patched version of either Apollo Router or Apollo Gateway. Apollo customers with an enterprise entitlement using the Apollo Router can also mitigate much of the risk from this issue by implementing [Apollo’s Persisted Queries (PQ) feature](https://www.apollographql.com/docs/router/configuration/persisted-queries). With PQ enabled, the Apollo Router will only execute safelisted queries. While customers would need to ensure that queries that induce this issue are not added to the safelist, PQs would mitigate the risk of clients submitting ad hoc queries that exploit this issue. ### References [Additional information on Query Plans](https://www.apollographql.com/docs/federation/query-plans/)

CVE-2024-43414 Affected Apollo router Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.52.12.8.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
apollo-router
crates.io
< 1.52.1
1.52.1
@apollo/query-planner
npm
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.8.5
2.8.5
@apollo/gateway
npm
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.8.5
2.8.5

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-43414?
CVE-2024-43414 is a security vulnerability in Apollo router involving Apollo Query Planner and Apollo Gateway may infinitely loop on sufficiently complex queries under CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion.
Which Apollo router versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.52.1, 2.8.5 across affected packages: apollo-router, @apollo/query-planner, @apollo/gateway.
What version fixes CVE-2024-43414?
Upgrading to 1.52.1, 2.8.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is apollo-router affected?
Yes, apollo-router is affected in releases prior to 1.52.1. Upgrade your dependency to 1.52.1 or later.
Is @apollo/query-planner affected?
Yes, @apollo/query-planner is affected in releases prior to 2.8.5. Upgrade your dependency to 2.8.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-43414?
CVE-2024-43414 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-2024-43414?
CVE-2024-43414 is classified under CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion (The product does not properly control the amount of recursion that takes place, consuming excessive resources, such as allocated memory or the program stack.).
How can I check crates.io dependencies for CVE-2024-43414?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for apollo-router'. 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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-fmj9-77q8-g6c4",
  "modified" : "2024-09-13T13:35:59Z",
  "published" : "2024-08-27T18:14:12Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-43414" ],
  "summary" : "Apollo Query Planner and Apollo Gateway may infinitely loop on sufficiently complex queries",
  "details" : "### Impact\nInstances of @apollo/query-planner >=2.0.0 and <2.8.5 are impacted by a denial-of-service vulnerability. @apollo/gateway versions >=2.0.0 and < 2.8.5 and Apollo Router <1.52.1 are also impacted through their use of @apollo/query-planner. \n\nIf @apollo/query-planner is asked to plan a sufficiently complex query, it may loop infinitely and never complete. This results in unbounded memory consumption and either a crash or out-of-memory (OOM) termination.\n\nThis issue can be triggered if you have at least one non-`@key` field that can be resolved by multiple subgraphs. To identify these shared fields, the schema for each subgraph must be reviewed. The mechanism to identify shared fields varies based on the version of Federation your subgraphs are using.\n\nYou can check if your subgraphs are using Federation 1 or Federation 2 by reviewing their schemas. Federation 2 subgraph schemas will contain a `@link` directive referencing the version of Federation being used while Federation 1 subgraphs will not. For example, in a Federation 2 subgraph, you will find a line like `@link(url: \"https://specs.apollo.dev/federation/v2.0\")`. If a similar `@link` directive is not present in your subgraph schema, it is using Federation 1. Note that a supergraph can contain a mix of Federation 1 and Federation 2 subgraphs.\n\n**To review Federation 1 subgraphs for impact:**\n\nIn Federation 1 subgraphs, fields are implicitly shareable across subgraphs. To review for impact, you will need to review for cases where multiple subgraphs can resolve the same field. For example: \n\n```graphql\n# Subgraph 1\ntype Query {\n  field: Int\n}\n\n# Subgraph 2\ntype Query {\n  field: Int\n}\n```\n\n\n**To review Federation 2 subgraphs for impact:**\n\nIn Federation 2 subgraphs, fields must be explicitly defined as shareable across subgraphs. This is done via the `@shareable` directive. For example:\n\n```graphql\n# Subgraph 1\n@link(url: \"https://specs.apollo.dev/federation/v2.0\")\ntype Query {\n  field: Int @shareable\n}\n\n# Subgraph 2\n@link(url: \"https://specs.apollo.dev/federation/v2.0\")\ntype Query {\n  field: Int @shareable\n}\n```\n\n### Impact Detail\n\nThis issue results from the Apollo query planner attempting to use a `Number` exceeding Javascript’s `Number.MAX_VALUE` in some cases. In Javascript, `Number.MAX_VALUE` is (2^1024 - 2^971).\n\nWhen the query planner receives an inbound graphql request, it breaks the query into pieces and for each piece, generates a list of potential execution steps to solve the piece. These candidates represent the steps that the query planner will take to satisfy the pieces of the larger query. As part of normal operations, the query planner requires and calculates the number of possible query plans for the total query. That is, it needs the product of the number of query plan candidates for each piece of the query. Under normal circumstances, after generating all query plan candidates and calculating the number of all permutations, the query planner moves on to stack rank candidates and prune less-than-optimal options. \n\nIn particularly complex queries, especially those where fields can be solved through multiple subgraphs, this can cause the number of all query plan permutations to balloon. In worst-case scenarios, this can end up being a number larger than `Number.MAX_VALUE`. In Javascript, if `Number.MAX_VALUE` is exceeded, Javascript represents the value as “infinity”. If the count of candidates is evaluated as infinity, the component of the query planner responsible for pruning less-than-optimal query plans does not actually prune candidates, causing the query planner to evaluate many orders of magnitude more query plan candidates than necessary.\n\nA given graph’s exposure to this issue varies based on its complexity. Consider the following Federation 2 subgraphs: \n\n```graphql\n# Subgraph 1\ntype Query {\n  field: Int @shareable\n}\n\n# Subgraph 2\ntype Query {\n  field: Int @shareable\n}\n```\n\nThe query planner can solve requests for `Query.field` in one of two ways - either by querying subgraph 1 or subgraph 2. \n\nThe following query with 1024 aliased fields would trigger this issue because 2^1024 > `Number.MAX_VALUE`:  \n\n```graphql\nquery {\n  field_1: field\n  field_2: field\n  # ...\n  field_1023: field\n  field_1024: field\n}\n```\n\n\nHowever, in a graph that provided 5 options to solve a given field, the bug could be encountered in a query that aliased the field approximately 440 times.\n\n\n### Patches\n@apollo/query-planner 2.8.5\n@apollo/gateway 2.8.5\nApollo Router 1.52.1\n\n### Workarounds\nThis issue can be avoided by ensuring there are no fields resolvable from multiple subgraphs. If all subgraphs are using Federation 2, you can confirm that you are not impacted by ensuring that none of your subgraph schemas use the `@shareable` directive. If you are using Federation 1 subgraphs, you will need to validate that there are no fields resolvable by multiple subgraphs. \n\nNote that a supergraph can contain a mix of Federation 1 and Federation 2 subgraphs. \n\nIf you do have fields resolvable by multiple subgraphs, changing this behavior in response to this issue may be risky to the operation of your supergraph. We recommend that you update to a patched version of either Apollo Router or Apollo Gateway.\n\nApollo customers with an enterprise entitlement using the Apollo Router can also mitigate much of the risk from this issue by implementing [Apollo’s Persisted Queries (PQ) feature](https://www.apollographql.com/docs/router/configuration/persisted-queries). With PQ enabled, the Apollo Router will only execute safelisted queries. While customers would need to ensure that queries that induce this issue are not added to the safelist, PQs would mitigate the risk of clients submitting ad hoc queries that exploit this issue.\n\n### References\n\n[Additional information on Query Plans](https://www.apollographql.com/docs/federation/query-plans/)\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "crates.io",
      "name" : "apollo-router"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.52.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "@apollo/query-planner"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.8.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "@apollo/gateway"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.8.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apollographql/federation/security/advisories/GHSA-fmj9-77q8-g6c4"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-43414"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apollographql/router/commit/e309c9bb5a48c1304ff69c88b7eabdd08c26bf45"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apollographql/federation"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.apollographql.com/docs/federation/query-plans"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.apollographql.com/docs/router/configuration/persisted-queries"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-673", "CWE-674" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-08-27T18:14:12Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-08-27T18:15:15Z"
  }
}