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01.13.2021

CVE-2020-8287 Node.js (HTTP Request Smuggling)

Virsec Security Research Lab Vulnerability Analysis

The Virsec Security Research Lab provides timely, relevant analysis about recent and notable security vulnerabilities.

1.1        Vulnerability Summary

Node.js server allow two copies of a header field in an HTTP request (for example, two Transfer-Encoding header fields). In this case, Node.js identifies the first header field and ignores the second. This can lead to HTTP Request Smuggling.

CVE-2020-8287: Node.js (HTTP Request Smuggling). Virsec Risk Index: 72%

Watch the video to learn more about this and other important vulnerabilities.

1.2        CVSS Score

CVSS Base score of this vulnerability is 6.5 Medium. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

1.3        Affected Version

Node.js versions before 10.23.1, 12.20.1, 14.15.4, 15.5.1.

1.4        Vulnerability Attribution

This vulnerability is disclosed by user “Piao” of HackerOne.

1.5        Risk Impact

Node.js is an application runtime environment that enables using JavaScript for building server-side applications that have access to the operating system, file system, and everything else to be fully functional. Among other server-side technologies, Node stands out with its speed, and intensive data exchange. It is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. It uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient. Node. js can handle many concurrent requests. This is the main reason it quickly became popular among developers and large companies. Some users of Node.js are Netflix, Walmart, UBER, PAYPAL, LinkedIn etc.

HTTP Parameter smuggling allows an attacker to bypass security controls, gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, and directly compromise other application users

A publicly disclosed exploit is available here.

1.6        Virsec Security Platform (VSP) Support:

VSP-Host monitors processes that are spawned which are not part of a set of whitelisted process. Any attempt to execute new command or unknown binary would be denied by VSP-Host’s Process Monitoring capability.

1.7        Reference Links:

Download the full vulnerability report to learn more about this and other important vulnerabilities.

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About the Author
Satya Gupta is Virsec’s visionary founder, with over 25 years of expertise in embedded systems, network security and systems architecture. Satya has helped build and guide the company through key growth phases from initial funding (2015), developing core technology with key partners including Raytheon and Lockheed (2016-2018), to launching an enterprise class, GA product (2019). Prior to this, Satya built a highly profitable software design and consulting business targeting data networking, application security and industrial automation projects. He was also Director of Firmware Engineering at Narad Networks and Managing Director and Chief Engineer at Eastern Telecom and Tech Ltd. Satya has more than 40 patents in complex firmware architecture with products deployed to hundreds of thousands of users. He holds a BS degree in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur and additional degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.