Описание
Improper Input Validation vulnerability in qs (parse modules) allows HTTP DoS.This issue affects qs: < 6.14.1.
Summary
The arrayLimit option in qs did not enforce limits for bracket notation (a[]=1&a[]=2), only for indexed notation (a[0]=1). This is a consistency bug; arrayLimit should apply uniformly across all array notations.
Note: The default parameterLimit of 1000 effectively mitigates the DoS scenario originally described. With default options, bracket notation cannot produce arrays larger than parameterLimit regardless of arrayLimit, because each a[]=valueconsumes one parameter slot. The severity has been reduced accordingly.
Details
The arrayLimit option only checked limits for indexed notation (a[0]=1&a[1]=2) but did not enforce it for bracket notation (a[]=1&a[]=2).
Vulnerable code (lib/parse.js:159-162):
if (root === '[]' && options.parseArrays) {
obj = utils.combine([], leaf); // No arrayLimit check
}
Working code (lib/parse.js:175):
else if (index <= options.arrayLimit) { // Limit checked here
obj = [];
obj[index] = leaf;
}
The bracket notation handler at line 159 uses utils.combine([], leaf) without validating against options.arrayLimit, while indexed notation at line 175 checks index <= options.arrayLimit before creating arrays.
PoC
const qs = require('qs');
const result = qs.parse('a[]=1&a[]=2&a[]=3&a[]=4&a[]=5&a[]=6', { arrayLimit: 5 });
console.log(result.a.length); // Output: 6 (should be max 5)
Note on parameterLimit interaction: The original advisory's "DoS demonstration" claimed a length of 10,000, but parameterLimit (default: 1000) caps parsing to 1,000 parameters. With default options, the actual output is 1,000, not 10,000.
Impact
Consistency bug in arrayLimit enforcement. With default parameterLimit, the practical DoS risk is negligible since parameterLimit already caps the total number of parsed parameters (and thus array elements from bracket notation). The risk increases only when parameterLimit is explicitly set to a very high value.
A flaw was found in qs, a module used for parsing query strings. A remote attacker can exploit an improper input validation vulnerability by sending specially crafted HTTP requests that use bracket notation (e.g., a[]=value). This bypasses the arrayLimit option, which is designed to limit the size of parsed arrays and prevent resource exhaustion. Successful exploitation can lead to memory exhaustion, causing a Denial of Service (DoS) where the application crashes or becomes unresponsive, making the service unavailable to users.
Отчет
This vulnerability is rated Important for Red Hat products that utilize the qs module for parsing query strings, particularly when processing user-controlled input with bracket notation. The arrayLimit option, intended to prevent resource exhaustion, is bypassed when bracket notation (a[]=value) is used, allowing a remote attacker to cause a denial of service through memory exhaustion. This can lead to application crashes or unresponsiveness, making the service unavailable.
Меры по смягчению последствий
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.
Затронутые пакеты
| Платформа | Пакет | Состояние | Рекомендация | Релиз |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cryostat 4 | io.cryostat-cryostat | Not affected | ||
| Gatekeeper 3 | gatekeeper/gatekeeper-rhel9 | Not affected | ||
| Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift | openshift-logging/cluster-logging-operator-bundle | Will not fix | ||
| Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift | openshift-logging/cluster-logging-rhel9-operator | Will not fix | ||
| Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift | openshift-logging/elasticsearch6-rhel9 | Will not fix | ||
| Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift | openshift-logging/elasticsearch-operator-bundle | Will not fix | ||
| Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift | openshift-logging/elasticsearch-proxy-rhel9 | Will not fix | ||
| Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift | openshift-logging/elasticsearch-rhel9-operator | Will not fix | ||
| Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift | openshift-logging/eventrouter-rhel9 | Will not fix | ||
| Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift | openshift-logging/fluentd-rhel9 | Will not fix |
Показывать по
Дополнительная информация
Статус:
EPSS
7.5 High
CVSS3
Связанные уязвимости
Improper Input Validation vulnerability in qs (parse modules) allows HTTP DoS.This issue affects qs: < 6.14.1. Summary The arrayLimit option in qs did not enforce limits for bracket notation (a[]=1&a[]=2), only for indexed notation (a[0]=1). This is a consistency bug; arrayLimit should apply uniformly across all array notations. Note: The default parameterLimit of 1000 effectively mitigates the DoS scenario originally described. With default options, bracket notation cannot produce arrays larger than parameterLimit regardless of arrayLimit, because each a[]=valueconsumes one parameter slot. The severity has been reduced accordingly. Details The arrayLimit option only checked limits for indexed notation (a[0]=1&a[1]=2) but did not enforce it for bracket notation (a[]=1&a[]=2). Vulnerable code (lib/parse.js:159-162): if (root === '[]' && options.parseArrays) { obj = utils.combine([], leaf); // No arrayLimit check } Working code (lib/parse.js:175): else if (index <= options.ar...
Improper Input Validation vulnerability in qs (parse modules) allows HTTP DoS.This issue affects qs: < 6.14.1. Summary The arrayLimit option in qs did not enforce limits for bracket notation (a[]=1&a[]=2), only for indexed notation (a[0]=1). This is a consistency bug; arrayLimit should apply uniformly across all array notations. Note: The default parameterLimit of 1000 effectively mitigates the DoS scenario originally described. With default options, bracket notation cannot produce arrays larger than parameterLimit regardless of arrayLimit, because each a[]=valueconsumes one parameter slot. The severity has been reduced accordingly. Details The arrayLimit option only checked limits for indexed notation (a[0]=1&a[1]=2) but did not enforce it for bracket notation (a[]=1&a[]=2). Vulnerable code (lib/parse.js:159-162): if (root === '[]' && options.parseArrays) { obj = utils.combine([], leaf); // No arrayLimit check } Working code (lib/parse.js:175): else if (inde
arrayLimit bypass in bracket notation allows DoS via memory exhaustion
Improper Input Validation vulnerability in qs (parse modules) allows H ...
qs's arrayLimit bypass in its bracket notation allows DoS via memory exhaustion
EPSS
7.5 High
CVSS3