CVE-2021-21267 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Regular Expression Denial-of-Service (ReDoS) vulnerability in npm package schema-inspector allows attackers to freeze the program or web browser page, impacting email validation. Users should upgrade to version 2.0.0 to mitigate the issue.

Understanding CVE-2021-21267

This CVE refers to a ReDoS vulnerability in the npm package schema-inspector affecting versions prior to 2.0.0.

What is CVE-2021-21267?

Schema-Inspector, an open-source tool for sanitizing and validating JS objects, is vulnerable to a ReDoS attack during email address validation.

The Impact of CVE-2021-21267

The vulnerability can lead to a denial-of-service condition, freezing the program or web browser page during validation, affecting users relying on email validation functions.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-21267

The following technical details shed light on the vulnerability and its exploitation.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in schema-inspector allows malicious inputs, specifically in email addresses, to trigger the ReDoS attack, impacting the validation process.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of schema-inspector prior to 2.0.0 are affected by this ReDoS vulnerability when validating email addresses.

Exploitation Mechanism

By providing a specially crafted input like 'a@0.0.0.0.0...', attackers can exploit the vulnerability and cause a denial-of-service scenario.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems and prevent exploitation, consider the following mitigation approaches.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade schema-inspector to version 2.0.0 or above to prevent ReDoS attacks during email validation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation checks across all input fields to mitigate similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update npm packages and dependencies to ensure the latest security patches are applied.