GHSA-7w5x-hrqm-74c2: Npm/smol-toml vulnerability
Summary parse() can be forced into an infinite loop when a value inside an array or inline table is followed by a comment that has no trailing newline (i.e. the comment "ends" the document).
The library fails to exit an internal loop when attempting to find the end of the structure, resetting its cursor to the beginning of the string instead. This causes the parser to indefinitely hang, compromising the availability of the service.
Proof of concept
js import { parse } from 'smol-toml' parse('a=[1 #') // never returns; CPU pinned at 100%
Impact
Applications which parse arbitrary TOML documents can suffer major availability issues if they receive malicious input. This issue is particularly severe for these use-cases, and it is strongly advised to upgrade to an up-to-date version of the library as soon as possible.
If your use-case does not involve parsing arbitrary TOML documents from untrusted sources, the impact is much lower in practice, although it's still advisable to update to version 1.7.1.
Patches
Version 1.7.1 properly breaks out of the loop in these situations and throws the expected TomlError.
Workarounds
None that don't involve refactors. Update the library as soon as possible if your use-case involves parsing arbitrary TOML documents from untrusted sources.
Reported By : Ravindu Lakmina Munaweera
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/smol-tomlto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.7.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
smol-tomlto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.7.1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which applications are most exposed to this issue?
Applications that parse arbitrary TOML documents from untrusted sources are most exposed, because an attacker can submit a crafted document that causes the parser to hang. Uses limited to trusted TOML input have lower practical impact.
What input is required to trigger the hang?
A value inside an array or inline table must be followed by a comment with no trailing newline, so that the comment ends the document. For example, parsing "a=[1 #" never returns and pins CPU usage.
Is there a fixed version?
Yes. Version 1.7.1 breaks out of the loop and throws the expected TomlError instead of hanging.
Is there a workaround if upgrading cannot happen immediately?
No workaround is provided that does not require refactoring. Upgrading to version 1.7.1 is strongly advised.