CVE-2025-66035: Low Severity In Common-20.3.13.tgz

by Alex Johnson 51 views

In the realm of software security, staying informed about vulnerabilities is paramount. Today, we delve into a low-severity vulnerability, CVE-2025-66035, detected in the common-20.3.13.tgz library, specifically within the opfab/operatorfabric-core project. This article aims to break down the details of this vulnerability, its potential impact, and the recommended steps to mitigate it, ensuring your applications remain secure.

Understanding the Vulnerability

Vulnerable Library: common-20.3.13.tgz

The vulnerability lies within the common-20.3.13.tgz library, which is part of the Angular framework. Angular is a widely-used development platform for building web, mobile, and desktop applications using TypeScript/JavaScript. This specific library provides commonly needed directives and services, making it a crucial component for many Angular projects. The library's home page can be found here.

Location and Context

The vulnerable library was identified in the /frontend/package.json file of the operatorfabric-core project. The dependency hierarchy highlights that common-20.3.13.tgz is the direct vulnerable library. This means that any project utilizing this specific version of the Angular common library is potentially at risk. The vulnerability was found in the HEAD commit 9384ffa4121d3484811e9f0da0560c1214d74607 and the base branch develop.

Detailed Vulnerability Description

CVE-2025-66035 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (XSRF) token leakage vulnerability present in Angular versions prior to 19.2.16, 20.3.14, and 21.0.1. Specifically, the issue arises from how Angular's HttpClient handles protocol-relative URLs. Angular's HttpClient has a built-in XSRF protection mechanism designed to prevent malicious websites from making unauthorized requests on behalf of a user. This mechanism typically checks if a request URL starts with a protocol (http:// or https://) to determine if it is cross-origin.

However, a flaw exists when dealing with protocol-relative URLs (those starting with //). These URLs are incorrectly treated as same-origin requests, leading the XSRF token to be automatically added to the X-XSRF-TOKEN header. This unintended behavior results in the unauthorized disclosure of the XSRF token to an attacker-controlled domain, potentially compromising the application's security. The vulnerability is categorized as a Credential Leak by App Logic, underscoring the importance of addressing it promptly.

This vulnerability highlights a critical aspect of web application security: the proper handling of URLs and the potential pitfalls of relying on implicit behaviors. The use of protocol-relative URLs, while sometimes convenient, can introduce unexpected security risks if not carefully managed.

Impact and Severity

While classified as a low-severity vulnerability, CVE-2025-66035 should not be dismissed. The CVSS 3 score details provide a deeper understanding of the potential impact:

  • Base Score: 0.0
    • Exploitability Metrics:
      • Attack Vector: Network
      • Attack Complexity: Low
      • Privileges Required: None
      • User Interaction: None
      • Scope: Changed
    • Impact Metrics:
      • Confidentiality Impact: None
      • Integrity Impact: None
      • Availability Impact: None

The low base score suggests minimal immediate impact in terms of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. However, the “Scope: Changed” metric indicates that the vulnerability could potentially affect resources beyond the initially intended scope. This means that while the direct impact might be low, the vulnerability could be a stepping stone for more significant attacks if not addressed.

Mitigation and Remediation

Suggested Fix: Upgrade Version

The recommended solution for CVE-2025-66035 is to upgrade to a patched version of Angular. Specifically, versions 19.2.16, 20.3.14, and 21.0.1 and later include the fix for this vulnerability. Upgrading ensures that the XSRF protection mechanism functions correctly, preventing the unintended leakage of XSRF tokens.

Upgrading your Angular version is a crucial step in mitigating this vulnerability and ensuring the security of your applications.

Workaround

In addition to upgrading, a workaround can be implemented to further protect against this vulnerability. The workaround involves avoiding the use of protocol-relative URLs (URLs starting with //) in HttpClient requests. Instead, backend communication URLs should be hardcoded as relative paths (starting with a single /) or fully qualified, trusted absolute URLs.

This practice ensures that the XSRF protection mechanism can accurately determine if a request is cross-origin, preventing the leakage of XSRF tokens. While upgrading is the primary solution, implementing this workaround provides an additional layer of defense.

Steps to Take

To effectively address CVE-2025-66035, consider the following steps:

  1. Identify Vulnerable Libraries: Use dependency scanning tools to identify all instances of common-20.3.13.tgz in your projects.
  2. Prioritize Upgrades: Focus on upgrading Angular in projects where the risk of XSRF attacks is highest.
  3. Upgrade Angular: Upgrade to Angular version 19.2.16, 20.3.14, 21.0.1, or later.
  4. Implement Workaround: Avoid using protocol-relative URLs in HttpClient requests. Use relative paths or fully qualified, trusted absolute URLs instead.
  5. Test Thoroughly: After upgrading, thoroughly test your application to ensure that the fix has been implemented correctly and that no new issues have been introduced.
  6. Monitor for Updates: Stay informed about new vulnerabilities and security updates for Angular and other dependencies.

Key Takeaways

  • CVE-2025-66035 is a low-severity XSRF token leakage vulnerability in Angular's common-20.3.13.tgz library.
  • The vulnerability is caused by the incorrect handling of protocol-relative URLs in Angular's HttpClient.
  • The recommended fix is to upgrade to Angular version 19.2.16, 20.3.14, 21.0.1, or later.
  • A workaround involves avoiding the use of protocol-relative URLs in HttpClient requests.
  • While the vulnerability is low severity, it should be addressed promptly to prevent potential exploitation.

Conclusion

Staying proactive about software security is crucial in today's threat landscape. CVE-2025-66035, while a low-severity vulnerability, serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping dependencies up-to-date and implementing secure coding practices. By understanding the details of this vulnerability and following the recommended mitigation steps, you can enhance the security of your Angular applications and protect against potential attacks.

For more information on open source security and vulnerability management, consider exploring resources like Mend.io, which offers solutions to help organizations manage and secure their open source dependencies.

By taking a proactive approach to security, you can ensure the long-term stability and integrity of your software projects.