CVE-2024-28863

node-tar is a Tar for Node.js. node-tar prior to version 6.2.1 has no limit on the number of sub-folders created in the folder creation process. An attacker who generates a large number of sub-folders can consume memory on the system running node-tar and even crash the Node.js client within few seconds of running it using a path with too many sub-folders inside. Version 6.2.1 fixes this issue by preventing extraction in excessively deep sub-folders.

Weakness

The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.

Affected Software

Potential Mitigations

• Mitigation of resource exhaustion attacks requires that the target system either:

• The first of these solutions is an issue in itself though, since it may allow attackers to prevent the use of the system by a particular valid user. If the attacker impersonates the valid user, they may be able to prevent the user from accessing the server in question.

• The second solution is simply difficult to effectively institute – and even when properly done, it does not provide a full solution. It simply makes the attack require more resources on the part of the attacker.

Related Attack Patterns

• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/147.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/227.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/492.html

References

• https://github.com/isaacs/node-tar/commit/fe8cd57da5686f8695415414bda49206a545f7f7
• https://github.com/isaacs/node-tar/security/advisories/GHSA-f5x3-32g6-xq36
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240524-0005/
• https://github.com/isaacs/node-tar/commit/fe8cd57da5686f8695415414bda49206a545f7f7
• https://github.com/isaacs/node-tar/security/advisories/GHSA-f5x3-32g6-xq36
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240524-0005/