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attack-surface.md

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Attack Surface Analysis for hexojs/hexo

Attack Surface: Plugin Vulnerabilities

  • Description: Security flaws within third-party Hexo plugins that allow for code execution or other significant compromises.
  • How Hexo Contributes: Hexo's plugin architecture provides the direct mechanism for arbitrary Node.js code execution during the site generation process. This is a core feature of Hexo that creates the vulnerability pathway.
  • Example: A plugin with a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in an outdated dependency. An attacker uploads a crafted file that triggers the RCE, taking control of the build server.
  • Impact: Compromise of the build environment, potentially leading to server compromise, data theft, or website defacement. Could lead to client-side attacks if the plugin injects malicious code.
  • Risk Severity: Critical (if RCE is possible) to High (for other significant vulnerabilities).
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Strict Plugin Vetting: Only install plugins from highly trusted sources (official Hexo plugins, extremely well-vetted community plugins with a proven track record).
    • Mandatory Code Review: Always review the plugin's source code before installation, focusing on dependencies and security-sensitive operations. This is crucial.
    • Aggressive Dependency Management: Use npm audit or yarn audit before every build to identify and update vulnerable dependencies. Automate this process.
    • Sandboxed Build Environment: Run hexo generate in a strictly isolated environment (e.g., a dedicated, minimal Docker container). Never run as root.
    • Input Validation (Plugin Devs): Plugin developers must rigorously validate and sanitize all input.

Attack Surface: Hexo Core Vulnerabilities

  • Description: Security flaws within the core Hexo codebase itself, allowing for code execution or other severe compromises.
  • How Hexo Contributes: This is a direct vulnerability in Hexo's own code, representing a flaw in the core application logic.
  • Example: A hypothetical vulnerability in Hexo's Markdown parsing engine that allows a crafted Markdown file to trigger a buffer overflow and achieve remote code execution during hexo generate.
  • Impact: Potentially severe, ranging from denial of service to remote code execution (compromising the build server).
  • Risk Severity: Critical (for RCE) to High (for other vulnerabilities that could lead to significant data breaches or system compromise).
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Immediate Updates: Update Hexo to the latest stable version immediately upon release, especially if security patches are included. Monitor security advisories closely.
    • Sandboxed Build Environment: Run the build process in a strictly isolated environment (e.g., a dedicated Docker container) to limit the impact of any potential exploit.
    • Least Privilege: Ensure the build process runs with the absolute minimum necessary privileges.

Attack Surface: Data Handling in Custom Code (Directly Using Hexo APIs)

  • Description: Vulnerabilities introduced by custom generators, scripts, or helpers specifically using Hexo's provided APIs in an insecure manner.
  • How Hexo Contributes: Hexo provides the APIs that, if misused, create the vulnerability. This is distinct from general bad coding practices; it's about incorrect usage of Hexo's extension points.
  • Example: A custom generator script uses Hexo's hexo.route.register API with unsanitized user input to define a route, potentially leading to a denial-of-service or unexpected behavior. Another example: a custom helper function uses Hexo's file I/O APIs with improperly validated paths, leading to a path traversal vulnerability.
  • Impact: Varies, but could include command injection (if shell commands are constructed unsafely), path traversal, or other code execution vulnerabilities within the context of the Hexo build process.
  • Risk Severity: High to Critical.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Rigorous Input Validation: Always validate and sanitize any data used within custom code that interacts with Hexo APIs, especially if the data comes from external sources or user configurations.
    • Safe API Usage: Carefully review Hexo's API documentation and use the APIs as intended, avoiding any patterns that could lead to vulnerabilities. Prefer built-in Hexo features over custom code whenever possible.
    • Code Review: Thoroughly review any custom code that interacts with Hexo APIs for potential security flaws.
    • Least Privilege: Ensure that any custom scripts run with the minimum necessary privileges.