CVE-2019-15604
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2019-15604 is an improper certificate validation vulnerability in Node.js that causes the process to crash when processing a specially crafted X.509 certificate. This affects Node.js 10.x, 12.x, and 13.x versions, potentially leading to denial of service for applications that handle TLS/SSL connections. Any Node.js server or application using TLS/SSL with affected versions is vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- Node.js
📦 What is this software?
Communications Cloud Native Core Network Function Cloud Native Environment by Oracle
View all CVEs affecting Communications Cloud Native Core Network Function Cloud Native Environment →
Graalvm by Oracle
Graalvm by Oracle
Leap by Opensuse
Node.js by Nodejs
Node.js by Nodejs
Node.js by Nodejs
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker could send crafted certificates to cause Node.js processes to crash, leading to complete denial of service for affected applications and potential service disruption.
Likely Case
Denial of service through process crashes when malicious certificates are processed, disrupting TLS/SSL functionality in Node.js applications.
If Mitigated
With proper network controls and certificate validation, impact is limited to potential crashes only when malicious certificates bypass filters.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending crafted certificates to vulnerable TLS endpoints. No authentication needed if TLS endpoint is exposed.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Node.js 10.17.0, 12.13.1, 13.3.0 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/december-2019-security-releases/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check current Node.js version: node --version
2. Update to patched version using package manager:
- Ubuntu/Debian: apt update && apt upgrade nodejs
- RHEL/CentOS: yum update nodejs
- Using nvm: nvm install 10.17.0 (or appropriate version)
3. Restart all Node.js applications and services
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network filtering for certificate traffic
allImplement network controls to filter or block suspicious certificate traffic to TLS endpoints
Load balancer certificate validation
allUse load balancers or reverse proxies with strict certificate validation before traffic reaches Node.js
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement network segmentation to isolate vulnerable Node.js applications from untrusted networks
- Deploy WAF or reverse proxy with certificate validation in front of vulnerable applications
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Run: node --version and check if version is 10.x (<10.17.0), 12.x (<12.13.1), or 13.x (<13.3.0)Check Version:
node --versionVerify Fix Applied:
After patching, verify node --version shows 10.17.0+, 12.13.1+, or 13.3.0+. Test TLS functionality remains operational.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Node.js process crashes or abnormal terminations
- TLS handshake failures with unusual certificates
- Increased error rates in TLS connections
Network Indicators:
- Unusual certificate traffic to Node.js TLS ports
- Multiple connection attempts with malformed certificates
SIEM Query:
source="nodejs" AND (event="process_exit" OR event="crash" OR message="TLS handshake error")🔗 References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-03/msg00008.html
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0573
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0579
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0597
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0598
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0602
- https://hackerone.com/reports/746733
- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v10.19.0/
- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v12.15.0/
- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v13.8.0/
- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/february-2020-security-releases/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-48
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200221-0004/
- https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4669
- https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-03/msg00008.html
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0573
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0579
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0597
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0598
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0602
- https://hackerone.com/reports/746733
- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v10.19.0/
- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v12.15.0/
- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v13.8.0/
- https://nodejs.org/en/blog/vulnerability/february-2020-security-releases/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-48
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200221-0004/
- https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4669
- https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html
