CVE-2017-5858: Converse.js User Impersonation Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w973-2qcc-p78x
Share
CVSS 5.9
CWE-20 CWE-346
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-5858 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.9) user impersonation vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Converse.js libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves user impersonation in converse.js. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.0.7, 2.0.5.

CVE-2017-5858 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-5858
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w973-2qcc-p78x
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.9
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Converse.js
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2017-5858

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

converse.js fixed: 1.0.7 
npm install converse.js@1.0.7
converse.js fixed: 2.0.5 
npm install converse.js@2.0.5
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 converse.js

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2017-5858, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls converse.js

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Converse.js in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.0.7), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls converse.js 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Converse.js, 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 `converse.js` prior to 1.0.7 for 1.x or 2.0.5 for 2.x are vulnerable to User Impersonation. The package provides an incorrect implementation of [XEP-0280: Message Carbons](https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0280.html) that allows a remote attacker to impersonate any user, including contacts, in the vulnerable application's display. This allows for various kinds of social engineering attacks. ## Recommendation If you're using `converse.js` 1.x, upgrade to 1.0.7 or later. If you're using `converse.js` 2.x, upgrade to 2.0.5 or later.

CVE-2017-5858 Affected Converse.js Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.0.72.0.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
converse.js
npm/converse.js
npm
< 1.0.7
1.0.7
converse.js
npm/converse.js
npm
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.0.5
2.0.5

References

NVD — CVE-2017-5858 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5858
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/jcbrand/converse.js/commit/42f249cabbbf5c026398e6d3b350f6f9536ea572
Converse.js Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/jcbrand/converse.js
rt-solutions.de/en/2017/02/cve-2017... WEB
https://rt-solutions.de/en/2017/02/CVE-2017-5589_xmpp_carbons
rt-solutions.de/wp-content/uploads/... WEB
https://rt-solutions.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/CVE-2017-5589_xmpp_carbons.pdf
snyk.io/vuln/snyk-js-conver... WEB
https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-CONVERSEJS-449664
www.npmjs.com/advisories/974 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/974
Converse.js Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/02/09/29
Converse.js Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/02/09/29
Converse.js Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96183

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-5858?
CVE-2017-5858 is a security vulnerability in Converse.js involving User Impersonation in converse.js under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Converse.js versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.0.7, 2.0.5 across affected packages: converse.js.
What version fixes CVE-2017-5858?
Upgrading to 1.0.7, 2.0.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is converse.js affected?
Yes, converse.js is affected in releases prior to 1.0.7, 2.0.5. Upgrade your dependency to 1.0.7, 2.0.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-5858?
CVE-2017-5858 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.9 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-5858?
CVE-2017-5858 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2017-5858?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls converse.js'. 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-w973-2qcc-p78x",
  "modified" : "2021-09-28T16:56:35Z",
  "published" : "2020-09-11T21:19:09Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-5858" ],
  "summary" : "User Impersonation in converse.js",
  "details" : "Versions of `converse.js` prior to 1.0.7 for 1.x or 2.0.5 for 2.x are vulnerable to User Impersonation. The package provides an incorrect implementation of [XEP-0280: Message Carbons](https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0280.html) that allows a remote attacker to impersonate any user, including contacts, in the vulnerable application's display. This allows for various kinds of social engineering attacks.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nIf you're using `converse.js` 1.x, upgrade to 1.0.7 or later.\nIf you're using `converse.js` 2.x, upgrade to 2.0.5 or later.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "converse.js"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.0.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "converse.js"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.0.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5858"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jcbrand/converse.js/commit/42f249cabbbf5c026398e6d3b350f6f9536ea572"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jcbrand/converse.js"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://rt-solutions.de/en/2017/02/CVE-2017-5589_xmpp_carbons"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://rt-solutions.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/CVE-2017-5589_xmpp_carbons.pdf"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-CONVERSEJS-449664"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/974"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/02/09/29"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/02/09/29"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96183"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-346" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-08-31T18:42:38Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}