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Attack Surface Analysis for cesanta/mongoose

Attack Surface: Configuration Exposure

  • Description: Sensitive configuration details (credentials, paths, API keys) are unintentionally made accessible to attackers.
  • Mongoose Contribution: Mongoose relies on configuration files (e.g., mongoose.yml) or command-line arguments. Misconfiguration in deployment can expose these files or the configuration process itself, directly related to how Mongoose is set up.
  • Example: A developer leaves the mongoose.yml file in a publicly accessible directory within the web root, or includes sensitive API keys directly in command-line arguments visible in process listings, both scenarios directly involving Mongoose configuration practices.
  • Impact: Unauthorized access to internal systems, data breaches, service disruption.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Store configuration files outside the web root, a direct recommendation for Mongoose deployments.
    • Use environment variables or secure configuration management systems to handle sensitive data, relevant to secure Mongoose configuration.
    • Restrict access to configuration files using operating system permissions, a standard security practice applicable to Mongoose configuration files.
    • Avoid hardcoding sensitive information directly in configuration files or command-line arguments, a best practice when configuring Mongoose.

Attack Surface: Path Traversal

  • Description: Attackers can access files and directories outside the intended web root by manipulating file paths in HTTP requests.
  • Mongoose Contribution: If Mongoose is configured to serve static files, vulnerabilities in its path handling logic can allow traversal. Incorrect sanitization or validation of requested file paths within Mongoose's code is the root cause.
  • Example: An attacker sends a request like http://example.com/../../../../etc/passwd to access the system's password file, bypassing intended directory restrictions if Mongoose doesn't properly sanitize the path during file serving.
  • Impact: Exposure of sensitive files, source code, configuration files, and potentially system compromise.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Ensure Mongoose is configured with a properly defined and restricted document root, a core Mongoose configuration setting.
    • Disable directory listing if not explicitly required, a Mongoose configuration option to reduce risk.
    • Regularly review and audit Mongoose's configuration related to file serving, focusing on Mongoose's file serving settings.
    • Consider using a reverse proxy in front of Mongoose to further sanitize requests and enforce path restrictions, adding an external layer of security to Mongoose deployments.

Attack Surface: Server-Side Includes (SSI) Injection

  • Description: Attackers inject malicious code into SSI directives within web pages, which is then executed by the server when processing the page.
  • Mongoose Contribution: If SSI is enabled in Mongoose, and user-controlled data is incorporated into SSI directives without proper sanitization, injection vulnerabilities arise. Mongoose processes SSI directives, making it directly responsible for secure handling if this feature is used.
  • Example: A website uses SSI to include a username in a greeting: <!--#echo var="USERNAME" -->. If the USERNAME variable is derived from user input and not sanitized, an attacker could inject SSI directives like <!--#exec cmd="rm -rf /" --> leading to command execution on the server, directly exploiting Mongoose's SSI processing.
  • Impact: Remote code execution, website defacement, data theft, denial of service.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Disable SSI if not absolutely necessary, the most direct way to eliminate this Mongoose-related attack surface.
    • If SSI is required, rigorously sanitize all user input before incorporating it into SSI directives, a crucial step when using Mongoose's SSI feature.
    • Implement a strict whitelist of allowed SSI commands and variables, a security hardening measure for Mongoose SSI usage.
    • Consider using templating engines that offer better security and input sanitization mechanisms instead of SSI, suggesting alternatives to Mongoose's SSI feature for improved security.

Attack Surface: Buffer Overflow in Request Parsing

  • Description: Exploiting vulnerabilities in how Mongoose parses HTTP requests, particularly headers or request lines, to cause a buffer overflow, potentially leading to code execution or denial of service.
  • Mongoose Contribution: As a C-based web server, Mongoose is susceptible to buffer overflows if memory management and bounds checking are not meticulously implemented in its HTTP request parsing logic. This is an inherent risk due to Mongoose's implementation.
  • Example: Sending an overly long HTTP header or request line that exceeds the allocated buffer size in Mongoose's parsing routines, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions and hijacking control flow, directly targeting Mongoose's parsing implementation.
  • Impact: Remote code execution, denial of service, system instability.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Keep Mongoose updated to the latest version, as updates often include fixes for buffer overflow vulnerabilities within Mongoose.
    • Thoroughly test the application with fuzzing tools to identify potential buffer overflow issues in Mongoose's request handling.
    • Consider using a web application firewall (WAF) to filter out potentially malicious requests that might trigger buffer overflows, adding a protective layer against attacks targeting Mongoose's parsing.

Attack Surface: Denial of Service via Resource Exhaustion

  • Description: Attackers overwhelm the server with requests, consuming excessive resources (CPU, memory, connections), leading to service unavailability for legitimate users.
  • Mongoose Contribution: Mongoose, like any web server, can be targeted by DoS attacks. Vulnerabilities in its resource management, connection handling, or request processing can make it more susceptible to these attacks. Mongoose's implementation directly influences its DoS resilience.
  • Example: A flood of HTTP requests from a botnet targeting a Mongoose server, exhausting connection limits, CPU, or memory, making the server unresponsive to legitimate users. Slowloris attacks exploiting slow connection handling in Mongoose are also a possibility, highlighting Mongoose's specific behavior.
  • Impact: Service disruption, financial loss, reputational damage.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Implement rate limiting to restrict the number of requests from a single IP address or user, a common practice to protect Mongoose deployments.
    • Configure connection timeouts and limits appropriately in Mongoose, directly adjusting Mongoose's settings for DoS protection.
    • Use a reverse proxy or CDN with DoS protection capabilities, adding external defenses for Mongoose-based applications.
    • Monitor server resource usage and implement alerting for unusual traffic patterns, essential for detecting DoS attempts against Mongoose servers.
    • Consider using techniques like SYN cookies to mitigate SYN flood attacks, a general DoS mitigation technique applicable to Mongoose.

Attack Surface: Outdated Mongoose Version

  • Description: Using an old, unpatched version of Mongoose that contains known security vulnerabilities.
  • Mongoose Contribution: The vulnerability lies directly in the outdated Mongoose codebase. Developers' failure to update Mongoose itself exposes their application to publicly known exploits.
  • Example: A critical vulnerability is discovered and patched in Mongoose version X. Applications still running version X-1 are vulnerable and can be easily exploited by attackers using readily available exploit code, directly due to the outdated Mongoose version.
  • Impact: Varies depending on the specific vulnerability, but can range from data breaches and remote code execution to denial of service.
  • Risk Severity: Varies (can be Critical to High depending on the vulnerability)
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Regularly update Mongoose to the latest stable version. This is the most direct and crucial mitigation for this Mongoose-specific risk.
    • Subscribe to security mailing lists or vulnerability databases to stay informed about Mongoose security updates.
    • Implement a vulnerability scanning process to identify outdated libraries including Mongoose in your application.
    • Establish a patch management process to quickly apply security updates, especially for Mongoose.