CVE-2021-43786: Nodebb API Token Verification Can Be Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-hf2m-j98r-4fqw
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-43786 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) api token verification can be vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Nodebb libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves api token verification can be bypassed in nodebb. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.18.5.

CVE-2021-43786 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-43786
GHSA Identifier GHSA-hf2m-j98r-4fqw
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Nodebb
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:3.1/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-2021-43786

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

nodebb fixed: 1.18.5 
npm install nodebb@1.18.5
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 nodebb

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2021-43786, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls nodebb

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Nodebb in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.18.5), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls nodebb 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. In Nodebb, 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

### Impact Incorrect logic present in the token verification step unintentionally allowed master token access to the API. ### Patches The vulnerability has been patch as of v1.18.5. ### Workarounds Cherry-pick commit hash 04dab1d550cdebf4c1567bca9a51f8b9ca48a500 to receive this patch in lieu of a full upgrade. ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Email us at [security@nodebb.org](mailto:security@nodebb.org)

CVE-2021-43786 Affected Nodebb Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.18.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
nodebb
npm/nodebb
npm
≥ 1.15.0
< 1.18.5
1.18.5

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/security/advisories/GHSA-hf2m-j98r-4fqw
NVD — CVE-2021-43786 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43786
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/commit/04dab1d550cdebf4c1567bca9a51f8b9ca48a500
blog.sonarsource.com/nodebb-remote-code-... WEB
https://blog.sonarsource.com/nodebb-remote-code-execution-with-one-shot
Nodebb Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB
Nodebb Release RELEASE
https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/releases/tag/v1.18.5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-43786?
CVE-2021-43786 is a security vulnerability in Nodebb involving API token verification can be bypassed in NodeBB under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Nodebb versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.18.5 across affected packages: nodebb.
What version fixes CVE-2021-43786?
Upgrading to 1.18.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is nodebb affected?
Yes, nodebb is affected in releases prior to 1.18.5. Upgrade your dependency to 1.18.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-43786?
CVE-2021-43786 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-43786?
CVE-2021-43786 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2021-43786?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls nodebb'. 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-hf2m-j98r-4fqw",
  "modified" : "2021-12-01T15:06:58Z",
  "published" : "2021-11-30T22:21:05Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-43786" ],
  "summary" : "API token verification can be bypassed in NodeBB ",
  "details" : "### Impact\nIncorrect logic present in the token verification step unintentionally allowed master token access to the API.\n\n### Patches\nThe vulnerability has been patch as of v1.18.5.\n\n### Workarounds\nCherry-pick commit hash 04dab1d550cdebf4c1567bca9a51f8b9ca48a500 to receive this patch in lieu of a full upgrade.\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Email us at [security@nodebb.org](mailto:security@nodebb.org)\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "nodebb"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.15.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.18.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/security/advisories/GHSA-hf2m-j98r-4fqw"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43786"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/commit/04dab1d550cdebf4c1567bca9a51f8b9ca48a500"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://blog.sonarsource.com/nodebb-remote-code-execution-with-one-shot"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB/releases/tag/v1.18.5"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-11-30T14:35:05Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-11-29T20:15:00Z"
  }
}