CVE-2017-5954: Serialize to js Code Execution Through IIFE Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-mm62-wxc8-cf7m
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-5954 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) code execution through iife vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Serialize to js libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves code execution through iife in serialize-to-js. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.0.0.

CVE-2017-5954 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-5954
GHSA Identifier GHSA-mm62-wxc8-cf7m
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Serialize to js
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:3.0/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 CVE-2017-5954

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Serialize to 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.

serialize-to-js fixed: 1.0.0 
npm install serialize-to-js@1.0.0
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 serialize-to-js

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2017-5954, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls serialize-to-js

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Serialize to js in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.0.0), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls serialize-to-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-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Serialize to 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

Affected versions of `serialize-to-js` may be vulnerable to arbitrary code execution through an Immediately Invoked Function Expression (IIFE). ## Proof of Concept ```js var payload = "{e: (function(){ eval('console.log(`exploited`)') })() }" var serialize = require('serialize-to-js'); serialize.deserialize(payload); ``` ## Recommendation Update to version 1.0.0, or later, and review [this disclaimer](https://www.npmjs.com/package/serialize-to-js#deserialize) from the author.

CVE-2017-5954 Affected Serialize to js Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.0.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
serialize-to-js
npm/serialize-to-js
npm
< 1.0.0
1.0.0

References

NVD — CVE-2017-5954 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5954
Serialize to js Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/commenthol/serialize-to-js/issues/1
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/commenthol/serialize-to-js/commit/1cd433960e5b9db4c0b537afb28366198a319429
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-mm62-wxc8-cf7m
Serialize to js Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/commenthol/serialize-to-js
opsecx.com/index.php/2017/02/0... WEB
https://opsecx.com/index.php/2017/02/08/exploiting-node-js-deserialization-bug-for-remote-code-execution
www.npmjs.com/advisories/313 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/313
www.npmjs.com/package/serialize-t... WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/package/serialize-to-js#deserialize
Serialize to js Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96223

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-5954?
CVE-2017-5954 is a security vulnerability in Serialize to js involving Code Execution Through IIFE in serialize-to-js under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Serialize to js versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.0.0 across affected packages: serialize-to-js.
What version fixes CVE-2017-5954?
Upgrading to 1.0.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is serialize-to-js affected?
Yes, serialize-to-js is affected in releases prior to 1.0.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.0.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-5954?
CVE-2017-5954 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-5954?
CVE-2017-5954 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2017-5954?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls serialize-to-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-mm62-wxc8-cf7m",
  "modified" : "2023-09-13T19:43:49Z",
  "published" : "2018-07-18T18:27:41Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-5954" ],
  "summary" : "Code Execution Through IIFE in serialize-to-js",
  "details" : "Affected versions of `serialize-to-js` may be vulnerable to arbitrary code execution through an Immediately Invoked Function Expression (IIFE). \n\n## Proof of Concept\n```js\nvar payload = \"{e: (function(){ eval('console.log(`exploited`)') })() }\"\nvar serialize = require('serialize-to-js');\nserialize.deserialize(payload);\n```\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nUpdate to version 1.0.0, or later, and review [this disclaimer](https://www.npmjs.com/package/serialize-to-js#deserialize) from the author.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "serialize-to-js"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5954"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/commenthol/serialize-to-js/issues/1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/commenthol/serialize-to-js/commit/1cd433960e5b9db4c0b537afb28366198a319429"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-mm62-wxc8-cf7m"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/commenthol/serialize-to-js"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://opsecx.com/index.php/2017/02/08/exploiting-node-js-deserialization-bug-for-remote-code-execution"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/313"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/package/serialize-to-js#deserialize"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96223"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:46:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}