CVE-2023-5654: React devtools core React Developer Tools Extension Improper Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-rxrc-rgv4-jpvx
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CVSS 6.5
CWE-116 CWE-285
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-5654 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) react developer tools extension improper vulnerability (CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output) affecting React devtools core libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves react developer tools extension improper authorization vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.28.4.

CVE-2023-5654 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-5654
GHSA Identifier GHSA-rxrc-rgv4-jpvx
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output
Affected Product React devtools core
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

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:L/A:L).

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 Low (I:L)
Availability Low (A:L)

How to Fix CVE-2023-5654

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

react-devtools-core fixed: 4.28.4 
npm install react-devtools-core@4.28.4
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 react-devtools-core

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2023-5654, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls react-devtools-core

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of React devtools core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.28.4), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls react-devtools-core 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-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output, where the product prepares a structured message for communication with another component, but encoding or escaping of the data is either missing or done incorrectly. as a result, the intended structure of the message is not preserved. In React devtools core, 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

The React Developer Tools extension registers a message listener with window.addEventListener('message', <listener>) in a content script that is accessible to any webpage that is active in the browser. Within the listener is code that requests a URL derived from the received message via fetch(). The URL is not validated or sanitised before it is fetched, thus allowing a malicious web page to arbitrarily fetch URL’s via the victim's browser.

CVE-2023-5654 Affected React devtools core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.28.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
react-devtools-core
npm/react-devtools-core
npm
< 4.28.4
4.28.4

References

NVD — CVE-2023-5654 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5654
React devtools core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/facebook/react/pull/27417
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/facebook/react/commit/09285d5a7f1c08bec09f44cec3d0518a603597fc
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/facebook/react/commit/94d5b5b2bf5204ebd289a113989c0e2c51b626ef
React devtools core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://gist.github.com/CalumHutton/1fb89b64409570a43f89d1fd3274b231
React devtools core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/facebook/react

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-5654?
CVE-2023-5654 is a security vulnerability in React devtools core involving React Developer Tools extension Improper Authorization vulnerability under CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output.
Which React devtools core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.28.4 across affected packages: react-devtools-core.
What version fixes CVE-2023-5654?
Upgrading to 4.28.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is react-devtools-core affected?
Yes, react-devtools-core is affected in releases prior to 4.28.4. Upgrade your dependency to 4.28.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-5654?
CVE-2023-5654 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-5654?
CVE-2023-5654 is classified under CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output (The product prepares a structured message for communication with another component, but encoding or escaping of the data is either missing or done incorrectly. As a result, the intended structure of the message is not preserved.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2023-5654?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls react-devtools-core'. 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-rxrc-rgv4-jpvx",
  "modified" : "2024-09-12T18:41:02Z",
  "published" : "2023-10-19T15:31:08Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-5654" ],
  "summary" : "React Developer Tools extension Improper Authorization vulnerability",
  "details" : "The React Developer Tools extension registers a message listener with window.addEventListener('message', <listener>) in a content script that is accessible to any webpage that is active in the browser. Within the listener is code that requests a URL derived from the received message via fetch(). The URL is not validated or sanitised before it is fetched, thus allowing a malicious web page to arbitrarily fetch URL’s via the victim's browser.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "react-devtools-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.28.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5654"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/facebook/react/pull/27417"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/facebook/react/commit/09285d5a7f1c08bec09f44cec3d0518a603597fc"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/facebook/react/commit/94d5b5b2bf5204ebd289a113989c0e2c51b626ef"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://gist.github.com/CalumHutton/1fb89b64409570a43f89d1fd3274b231"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/facebook/react"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-116", "CWE-285" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-10-20T22:26:13Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-10-19T15:15:09Z"
  }
}