CVE-2023-3481
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in critters (npm)
What is CVE-2023-3481 About?
Critters versions 0.0.17-0.0.19 are susceptible to a Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability due to improper HTML parsing. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages, potentially leading to unauthorized client-side actions or information theft. Exploitation is likely triggered by user-supplied input being rendered without adequate sanitization, making it a relatively easy attack.
Affected Software
Technical Details
The vulnerability in Critters versions 0.0.17-0.0.19 arises from an issue during the parsing of HTML content. Specifically, the parsing mechanism fails to properly sanitize or escape HTML elements, particularly when user-controlled input is processed and embedded into the web page. This allows an attacker to inject arbitrary script code (e.g., <script>alert('XSS')</script>) into parts of the HTML that are later rendered by a victim's browser. When the vulnerable application renders this crafted HTML, the embedded malicious script is executed in the context of the user's browser, bypassing the Same-Origin Policy.
What is the Impact of CVE-2023-3481?
Successful exploitation may allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser, leading to session hijacking, defacement of the website, redirecting users to malicious sites, or unauthorized access to sensitive information such as cookies and local storage.
What is the Exploitability of CVE-2023-3481?
Exploitation of this XSS vulnerability is typically of low to medium complexity, depending on the specific input vectors available. It requires an attacker to inject malicious script code into a part of the application that processes and renders HTML unsafely. Prerequisites usually involve a user-controlled input field that is not properly sanitized or escaped before being displayed. No specific authentication or privilege requirements are needed on the target system for the initial injection, although a user must interact with the compromised page to trigger the XSS. This is a remote attack, as the payload is served to the victim's browser. The primary risk factor is the application's failure to adequately validate and sanitize all user-supplied data that is reflected back to the user's browser.
What are the Known Public Exploits?
| PoC Author | Link | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| No known exploits | ||
What are the Available Fixes for CVE-2023-3481?
Available Upgrade Options
- critters
- >0.0.17, <0.0.20 → Upgrade to 0.0.20
Struggling with dependency upgrades?
See how Resolved Security's drop-in replacements make it simple.
Book a demoAdditional Resources
- https://github.com/GoogleChromeLabs/critters
- https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-cx3j-qqxj-9597
- https://github.com/GoogleChromeLabs/critters/pull/133
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3481
- https://github.com/GoogleChromeLabs/critters/security/advisories/GHSA-cx3j-qqxj-9597
- https://github.com/GoogleChromeLabs/critters/commit/7757902c9e0b3285d516359b3cb602cd9d50d80e
- https://github.com/GoogleChromeLabs/critters/security/advisories/GHSA-cx3j-qqxj-9597
What are Similar Vulnerabilities to CVE-2023-3481?
Similar Vulnerabilities: CVE-2023-37905 , CVE-2023-38038 , CVE-2023-38148 , CVE-2023-37905 , CVE-2023-45136
