CVE-2021-21316: Less openui5 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2021-21316 is a HIGH (CVSS 6.3) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')) affecting Less openui5 libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves processing untrusted theming resources might execute arbitrary code (ace). Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.10.0.
CVE-2021-21316 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 6.3
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2021-21316
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Less openui5 dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
npm install less-openui5@0.10.0
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls less-openui5
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2021-21316, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls less-openui5
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Less openui5 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.10.0), your application is affected.
Note: The npm ls less-openui5 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-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component. In Less openui5, 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
CVE-2021-21316 Affected Less openui5 Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
less-openui5
|
npm |
< 0.10.0
|
0.10.0
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-21316?
Which Less openui5 versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2021-21316?
Is less-openui5 affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-21316?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-21316?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2021-21316?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-3crj-w4f5-gwh4",
"modified" : "2021-02-16T17:35:25Z",
"published" : "2021-01-29T20:51:37Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-21316" ],
"summary" : "Processing untrusted theming resources might execute arbitrary code (ACE)",
"details" : "### Impact\nWhen processing theming resources (i.e. `*.less` files) with less-openui5 that originate from an untrusted source, those resources might contain JavaScript code which will be executed in the context of the build process.\n\nWhile this is a [feature](http://lesscss.org/usage/#less-options-enable-inline-javascript-deprecated-) of the [Less.js library](https://github.com/less/less.js), it is an unexpected behavior in the context of OpenUI5 and SAPUI5 development.\n\nEspecially in the context of [UI5 Tooling](https://github.com/SAP/ui5-tooling), which relies on less-openui5, this poses a security threat:\n\nAn attacker might create a [library](https://sap.github.io/ui5-tooling/pages/Builder/#library) or [theme-library](https://sap.github.io/ui5-tooling/pages/Builder/#theme-library) containing a custom control or theme, hiding malicious JavaScript code in one of the `.less` files.\n\nThis is an example of inline JavaScript in a Less file:\n```less\n.rule {\n\t@var: `(function(){console.log('Hello from JavaScript'); process.exit(1);})()`;\n\tcolor: @var;\n}\n```\n\nStarting with Less.js version 3.0.0, the Inline JavaScript feature is disabled by default. less-openui5 however currently uses [a fork](https://github.com/SAP/less-openui5/tree/master/lib/thirdparty/less) of Less.js v1.6.3.\n\nNote that disabling the Inline JavaScript feature in Less.js versions 1.x, still evaluates code has additional double codes around it:\n```less\n.rule {\n\t@var: \"`(function(){console.log('Hello from JavaScript'); process.exit(1);})()`\";\n\tcolor: @var;\n}\n```\n\n### Patches\nWe decided to remove the inline JavaScript evaluation feature completely from the code of our Less.js fork.\n\nThis fix is available in less-openui5 version [v0.10.0](https://github.com/SAP/less-openui5/releases/tag/v0.10.0)\n\n### Workarounds\nOnly process trusted theming resources.\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Open an issue in https://github.com/SAP/less-openui5\n* Email us at secure@sap.com",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "less-openui5"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "0.10.0"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/SAP/less-openui5/security/advisories/GHSA-3crj-w4f5-gwh4"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21316"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/SAP/less-openui5/commit/c0d3a8572974a20ea6cee42da11c614a54f100e8"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/SAP/less-openui5/releases/tag/v0.10.0"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/package/less-openui5"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "http://lesscss.org/usage/#less-options-enable-inline-javascript-deprecated-"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-74" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2021-01-29T20:50:46Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2021-02-16T18:15:00Z"
}
}