CVE-2022-36045CWE-330CWE-338

Account takeover via cryptographically weak PRNG in NodeBB Forum

Critical · published August 31, 2022

CVSS v3.1
9.0
EPSS
1%
Percentile
70.6
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A single crafted script can let an attacker take over any account in NodeBB forums — talk about a nightmare! 🔥 Think of it like a lock on a treasure chest that uses a flimsy combination mechanism, allowing someone to guess the code if they know the pattern — a perfect recipe for disaster! With this vulnerability, an attacker could not only reset any user's password without their knowledge but also gain full access to personal data and sensitive discussions. Essentially, it’s handing over the keys to a digital treasure trove, making it absolutely devastating for users and forum integrity.

Put simply

Think of it like a lock on a treasure chest that uses a flimsy combination mechanism, allowing someone to guess the code if they know the pattern — a perfect recipe for disaster! This vulnerability stems from the use of an insecure pseudo-random number generator (`Math.random()`) in the `utils.generateUUID` function, allowing an attacker to calculate valid reset codes through repeated requests.

What to do

With this vulnerability, an attacker could not only reset any user's password without their knowledge but also gain full access to personal data and sensitive discussions. Essentially, it’s handing over the keys to a digital treasure trove, making it absolutely devastating for users and forum integrity. To protect your NodeBB installation, immediately upgrade to version 2.x or 1.19.x, where this vulnerability is patched. If you're using an older version, consider cherry-picking the specific changeset that addresses this issue. Don't let your forum become an easy target! You've got this! By applying the patch, you'll be a security hero in no time! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
9.0 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01320 · 70.6th percentile
Weaknesses
CWE-330 · Use of Insufficiently Random Values; CWE-338 · Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
Published
2022-08-31T15:10Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 31 AUG 15:10Z
    Account takeover via cryptographically weak PRNG in NodeBB Forum
    cvelistv5