GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m: Mongoose Remote Memory Exposure Vulnerability

MODERATE
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CVSS 5.1
CWE-201
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.1) remote memory exposure vulnerability (CWE-201: Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data) affecting Mongoose libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves remote memory exposure in mongoose. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.8.39, 4.3.6.

GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.1
CWE Classification CWE-201: Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data
Affected Product Mongoose
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
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 GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m

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

mongoose fixed: 3.8.39 
npm install mongoose@3.8.39
mongoose fixed: 4.3.6 
npm install mongoose@4.3.6
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 mongoose

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls mongoose

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Mongoose in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.8.39), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls mongoose 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-201: Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data, where the code transmits data to another actor, but a portion of the data includes sensitive information that should not be accessible to that actor. In Mongoose, 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 `mongoose` before 4.3.6, 3.8.39 are vulnerable to remote memory exposure. Trying to save a number to a field of type Buffer on the affected mongoose versions allocates a chunk of uninitialized memory and stores it in the database. ## Recommendation Update to version 4.3.6, 3.8.39 or later.

GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m Affected Mongoose Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.8.394.3.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
mongoose
npm/mongoose
npm
≥ 3.5.5
< 3.8.39
3.8.39
mongoose
npm/mongoose
npm
≥ 4.0.0
< 4.3.6
4.3.6

References

Mongoose Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose/issues/3764
Mongoose Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://gist.github.com/ChALkeR/440bc3dfcbd9b6da75c3
Mongoose Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://gist.github.com/ChALkeR/d4a8055625221b6e65f0
www.npmjs.com/advisories/599 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/599

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m?
GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m is a security vulnerability in Mongoose involving Remote Memory Exposure in mongoose under CWE-201: Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data.
Which Mongoose versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.8.39, 4.3.6 across affected packages: mongoose.
What version fixes GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m?
Upgrading to 3.8.39, 4.3.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is mongoose affected?
Yes, mongoose is affected in releases prior to 3.8.39, 4.3.6. Upgrade your dependency to 3.8.39, 4.3.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m?
GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m?
GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m is classified under CWE-201: Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data (The code transmits data to another actor, but a portion of the data includes sensitive information that should not be accessible to that actor.).
How can I check npm dependencies for GHSA-r5xw-q988-826m?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls mongoose'. 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-r5xw-q988-826m",
  "modified" : "2023-12-07T22:05:28Z",
  "published" : "2020-09-01T19:39:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "Remote Memory Exposure in mongoose",
  "details" : "Versions of `mongoose` before 4.3.6, 3.8.39 are vulnerable to remote memory exposure.\n\nTrying to save a number to a field of type Buffer on the affected mongoose versions allocates a chunk of uninitialized memory and stores it in the database.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nUpdate to version 4.3.6, 3.8.39 or later.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "mongoose"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.5.5"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.8.39"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.8.38"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "mongoose"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.3.6"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 4.3.5"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose/issues/3764"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://gist.github.com/ChALkeR/440bc3dfcbd9b6da75c3"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://gist.github.com/ChALkeR/d4a8055625221b6e65f0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/599"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-201" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-08-31T18:29:22Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}