CVE-2020-8124: Url parse Improper Validation And Sanitization Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-46c4-8wrp-j99v
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-8124 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) improper validation and sanitization vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Url parse libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves improper validation and sanitization in url-parse. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.4.5.

CVE-2020-8124 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-8124
GHSA Identifier GHSA-46c4-8wrp-j99v
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Url parse
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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:N).

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 None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-8124

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

url-parse fixed: 1.4.5 
npm install url-parse@1.4.5
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 url-parse

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2020-8124, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls url-parse

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Url parse in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.4.5), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls url-parse 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 Url parse, 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

Insufficient validation and sanitization of user input exists in url-parse npm package version 1.4.4 and earlier may allow attacker to bypass security checks.

CVE-2020-8124 Affected Url parse Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.4.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
url-parse
npm/url-parse
npm
≥ 0.1.0
< 1.4.5
1.4.5

References

NVD — CVE-2020-8124 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8124
Url parse Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/github/advisory-database/pull/6762
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/unshiftio/url-parse/commit/3ecd256f127c3ada36a84d9b8dd3ebd14316274b
hackerone.com/reports/496293 WEB
https://hackerone.com/reports/496293
Url parse Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/unshiftio/url-parse

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-8124?
CVE-2020-8124 is a security vulnerability in Url parse involving Improper Validation and Sanitization in url-parse under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Url parse versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.4.5 across affected packages: url-parse.
What version fixes CVE-2020-8124?
Upgrading to 1.4.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is url-parse affected?
Yes, url-parse is affected in releases prior to 1.4.5. Upgrade your dependency to 1.4.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-8124?
CVE-2020-8124 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-8124?
CVE-2020-8124 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-2020-8124?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls url-parse'. 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-46c4-8wrp-j99v",
  "modified" : "2026-02-03T22:13:35Z",
  "published" : "2022-01-06T20:30:34Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-8124" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Validation and Sanitization in url-parse",
  "details" : "Insufficient validation and sanitization of user input exists in url-parse npm package version 1.4.4 and earlier may allow attacker to bypass security checks.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "url-parse"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.4.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8124"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/github/advisory-database/pull/6762"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/unshiftio/url-parse/commit/3ecd256f127c3ada36a84d9b8dd3ebd14316274b"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://hackerone.com/reports/496293"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/unshiftio/url-parse"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-03-22T21:07:36Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-02-04T20:15:00Z"
  }
}