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Fencer Intel
high 7.5

GHSA-gwj5-3vfq-q992 json

Import loops in account imports, nats-server DoS

published 5y ago modified 2mo ago also GO-2022-0398

cvss
7.5
version 3.1, GitHub
cisa kev
Not listed
not in CISA's catalog
epss
—
no score, EPSS covers CVEs only
public exploits
0
none known

Summary

(This advisory is canonically <https://advisories.nats.io/CVE/CVE-2020-28466.txt>)

## Problem Description

An export/import cycle between accounts could crash the nats-server, after consuming CPU and memory.

This issue was fixed publicly in <https://github.com/nats-io/nats-server/pull/1731> in November 2020.

The need to call this out as a security issue was highlighted by `snyk.io` and we are grateful for their assistance in doing so.

Organizations which run a NATS service providing access to accounts run by untrusted third parties are affected. See below for an important caveat if running such a service.

## Affected versions

#### NATS Server

* Version 2 prior to 2.2.0 + 2.0.0 through and including 2.1.9 are vulnerable. * fixed with nats-io/nats-server PR 1731, commit 2e3c226729

## Impact

The nats-server could be killed, after consuming resources.

## Workaround

The import cycle requires at least two accounts to work; if you have open account sign-up, then restricting new account sign-up might hinder an attacker.

## Solution

Upgrade the nats-server.

## Caveat on NATS with untrusted users

Running a NATS service which is exposed to untrusted users presents a heightened risk.

Any remote execution flaw or equivalent seriousness, or denial-of-service by unauthenticated users, will lead to prompt releases by the NATS maintainers.

Fixes for denial of service issues with no threat of remote execution, when limited to account holders, are likely to just be committed to the main development branch with no special attention.

Those who are running such services are encouraged to build regularly from git.

Patch / fix

  • go github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 2.2.0

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CVSS scores

assigned by version score vector
GitHub 3.1 7.5 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected packages

ecosystem package affected fixed in
go github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2
<2.2.0
2.2.0
go github.com/nats-io/nats-server
all versions
no fix listed

Classification

Weakness
  • CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

References

Sources

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.