CVE-2025-66035 Vulnerability In Common-16.2.2.tgz

by Alex Johnson 50 views

In the realm of software development, security vulnerabilities are a persistent concern. One such vulnerability, CVE-2025-66035, has been identified in the common-16.2.2.tgz library, sparking discussions among developers and security experts alike. This article delves into the specifics of this vulnerability, its potential impact, and the necessary steps to mitigate the risk. Our goal is to equip you with a comprehensive understanding of CVE-2025-66035, enabling you to safeguard your applications and systems effectively.

What is common-16.2.2.tgz?

Before diving into the vulnerability itself, let's first understand what common-16.2.2.tgz is. This library is a part of the Angular framework, a popular platform for building web and mobile applications. Specifically, it belongs to the @angular/common package, which provides essential services and functionalities like internationalization, localization, and HTTP client capabilities. Version 16.2.2 is a specific release of this package. Given Angular's widespread use, any vulnerability within its components can have significant implications for a vast number of projects. The library can be found at its home page: https://registry.npmjs.org/@angular/common/-/common-16.2.2.tgz. Knowing the role and context of this library is crucial in understanding the potential impact of the CVE-2025-66035 vulnerability.

CVE-2025-66035: A Detailed Look

CVE-2025-66035 is classified as a low-severity vulnerability with a CVSS score of 0.0. While the severity might seem minimal, understanding the nature of the vulnerability is crucial for comprehensive security. This vulnerability involves a Cross-Site Request Forgery (XSRF) token leakage via protocol-relative URLs in Angular HTTP clients. Let's break this down:

  • XSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery): This is a type of attack where a malicious website, email, blog, instant message, or program causes a user’s web browser to perform an unwanted action on a trusted site when the user is authenticated. XSRF attacks target state-changing requests, not data theft, since the attacker cannot see the response to the forged request.
  • Token Leakage: In secure web applications, tokens are often used to prevent XSRF attacks. These tokens are unique, secret values that are included in requests to verify their authenticity. A leakage of these tokens can allow attackers to bypass security measures.
  • Protocol-Relative URLs: These are URLs that start with // instead of http:// or https://. The browser automatically uses the same protocol as the current page. While they can be convenient, they also introduce potential security risks if not handled correctly.

In the context of CVE-2025-66035, Angular's HttpClient has a built-in XSRF protection mechanism. It checks if a request URL starts with a protocol (http:// or https://) to determine if it's a cross-origin request. However, if the URL starts with a protocol-relative URL (//), it's incorrectly treated as a same-origin request, and the XSRF token is automatically added to the X-XSRF-TOKEN header. This credential leak by app logic can lead to the unauthorized disclosure of the XSRF token to an attacker-controlled domain.

Impact of the Vulnerability

While the CVSS score for CVE-2025-66035 is 0.0, indicating a low severity, the potential impact should not be dismissed. The vulnerability allows for unauthorized disclosure of the XSRF token, which, in turn, can lead to a Cross-Site Request Forgery attack. Although the attacker cannot directly steal data, they can potentially perform actions on behalf of the user without their knowledge or consent. This might include:

  • Changing account settings
  • Making unauthorized purchases
  • Altering data
  • Performing other actions that the user is authorized to do

Given the nature of XSRF attacks, the severity can vary depending on the application and the actions a user can perform. In applications where critical operations are performed, the impact can be significant. Therefore, it's crucial to address this vulnerability proactively.

Technical Details: CVSS 3 Score Breakdown

Understanding the CVSS 3 score can provide further insights into the nature of the vulnerability. Here's a breakdown of the CVSS 3 score for CVE-2025-66035 (0.0):

  • Base Score Metrics:
    • 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 score primarily stems from the lack of impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. However, the exploitability metrics indicate that the vulnerability can be exploited over a network with low complexity and without requiring any privileges or user interaction. The Scope: Changed metric suggests that an exploitation could affect resources beyond the vulnerable component.

For more information on CVSS3 Scores, you can refer to the CVSS calculator provided by FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams): https://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0.

Remediation and Mitigation Strategies

Fortunately, there are effective ways to remediate and mitigate the CVE-2025-66035 vulnerability. The recommended approach is to upgrade to a patched version of Angular. Specifically, this issue has been addressed in versions 19.2.16, 20.3.14, and 21.0.1. Upgrading to one of these versions will eliminate the vulnerability.

If upgrading is not immediately feasible, a workaround is available. The workaround involves avoiding the use of protocol-relative URLs (URLs starting with //) in HttpClient requests. Instead, all backend communication URLs should be hardcoded as:

  • Relative paths (starting with a single /)
  • Fully qualified, trusted absolute URLs (https://example.com/api/data)

By ensuring that URLs explicitly specify the protocol, the vulnerability can be avoided. This workaround provides an immediate solution while planning for a full upgrade.

Steps to Take

To address the CVE-2025-66035 vulnerability, follow these steps:

  1. Identify Affected Applications: Determine which of your applications are using common-16.2.2.tgz or other vulnerable versions of @angular/common.
  2. Assess the Risk: Evaluate the potential impact of an XSRF attack on these applications, considering the sensitivity of the data and the actions users can perform.
  3. Plan the Upgrade or Workaround: Decide whether to upgrade to a patched version or implement the workaround of avoiding protocol-relative URLs.
  4. Implement the Chosen Solution: Execute the upgrade or apply the workaround across all affected applications.
  5. Test and Verify: Thoroughly test the applications to ensure that the vulnerability is resolved and that no new issues have been introduced.
  6. Monitor and Maintain: Continuously monitor your applications for any signs of vulnerabilities and keep your dependencies up to date.

Best Practices for Open Source Security

Addressing CVE-2025-66035 is just one aspect of maintaining robust security in your projects. Here are some best practices for managing open source security:

  • Keep Dependencies Up-to-Date: Regularly update your dependencies to the latest versions to benefit from security patches and bug fixes.
  • Use a Vulnerability Scanner: Employ tools that automatically scan your dependencies for known vulnerabilities. These tools can provide early warnings about potential risks.
  • Follow Secure Coding Practices: Implement secure coding practices to minimize the introduction of new vulnerabilities.
  • Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities in your applications and infrastructure.
  • Stay Informed: Keep abreast of the latest security threats and vulnerabilities by following security blogs, newsletters, and advisories.

Conclusion

The CVE-2025-66035 vulnerability in common-16.2.2.tgz highlights the importance of proactive security measures in software development. While the vulnerability has a low-severity rating, its potential impact through XSRF attacks should not be underestimated. By understanding the nature of the vulnerability, its implications, and the available remediation strategies, you can effectively protect your applications. Upgrading to a patched version of Angular or implementing the workaround of avoiding protocol-relative URLs are crucial steps in mitigating the risk. Remember that maintaining a strong security posture is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring, vigilance, and adherence to best practices.

For further information on open source security and vulnerability management, you might find valuable resources on the Mend website.