GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564: Text qrcode Entropy Backdoor Vulnerability

HIGH
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-506
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564 is a HIGH (CVSS 9.8) entropy backdoor vulnerability (CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code) affecting Text qrcode libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves entropy backdoor in text-qrcode. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564 at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code
Affected Product Text qrcode
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 GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564

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

text-qrcode fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install text-qrcode@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 text-qrcode

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls text-qrcode

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Text qrcode 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 text-qrcode 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-506: Embedded Malicious Code, where the product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature. In Text qrcode, 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 `text-qrcode` contain malicious code that overwrites the `randomBytes` method for the `crypto` module with a function that generates weak entropy. Instead of generating 32 bytes, the infected randomBytes will generate 3 bytes of entropy and hash them, resulting in a 32 byte value being returned, but one that is easily guessable. ## Recommendation Uninstall `text-qrcode` immediately. If the module was used to generate entropy that is load bearing, all such instances of generated entropy must be replaced. This includes things like bitcoin wallets, private keys, encrypted messages, etc.

GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564 Affected Text qrcode Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
text-qrcode
npm/text-qrcode
npm
≥ 0.0.0

References

www.npmjs.com/advisories/738 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/738

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564?
GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564 is a security vulnerability in Text qrcode involving Entropy Backdoor in text-qrcode under CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code.
Which Text qrcode versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: text-qrcode.
What version fixes GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is text-qrcode affected?
Yes, text-qrcode is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564?
GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (HIGH) 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 GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564?
GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564 is classified under CWE-506: Embedded Malicious Code (The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.).
How can I check npm dependencies for GHSA-h5vj-f7r9-w564?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls text-qrcode'. 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-h5vj-f7r9-w564",
  "modified" : "2021-10-01T13:30:18Z",
  "published" : "2020-09-01T21:22:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "Entropy Backdoor in text-qrcode",
  "details" : "All versions of `text-qrcode` contain malicious code that overwrites the `randomBytes` method for the `crypto` module with a function that generates weak entropy. Instead of generating 32 bytes, the infected randomBytes will generate 3 bytes of entropy and hash them, resulting in a 32 byte value being returned, but one that is easily guessable. \n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nUninstall `text-qrcode` immediately. If the module was used to generate entropy that is load bearing, all such instances of generated entropy must be replaced. This includes things like bitcoin wallets, private keys, encrypted messages, etc.",
  "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" : "text-qrcode"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/738"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-506" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-08-31T18:34:01Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}