Medium CVE

Information

A Medium CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) alert indicates a moderate security vulnerability within a package that poses a reasonable risk to your system. CVEs are standardized identifiers for known security vulnerabilities in software.

Socket’s AI-powered threat detection flags packages with medium CVEs to ensure they are documented and addressed appropriately. These vulnerabilities, while not critical, can still pose significant risks if left unpatched.

Why Medium CVEs are Important

1. Balanced Risk Management:
   Medium CVEs represent vulnerabilities that, while not immediately severe, can be exploited to cause moderate damage. Addressing these vulnerabilities is essential for balanced risk management.
2. Prevent Escalation:
   Medium CVEs have the potential to be exploited in combination with other vulnerabilities, leading to more severe security breaches. Addressing them prevents such scenarios.
3. Maintaining Security Hygiene:
   Fixing medium CVEs ensures overall security hygiene, demonstrating a proactive approach to security management.

Recommended actions

Medium CVEs indicate moderate security vulnerabilities that pose a reasonable risk to your system.

Suggested Action Configuration

Alert Action: Monitor

• Justification: Medium-risk alerts should be monitored to keep an eye on potential issues without immediate action. This approach helps in managing balanced risk while avoiding unnecessary disruptions.
• Action: Choose "Monitor" for these alerts. You'll see these in the Socket Dashboard, including in the organization-wide alert page and report summaries. This way, you can keep an eye on them without alerting developers or cluttering your PRs or MRs with potential false alarms.

Investigate the Dependency

• Verify the CVE: Check the official CVE database and the package’s repository for details about the vulnerability.
• Assess Impact: Determine how the vulnerability affects your project and assess the potential damage it can cause.

Apply Patches or Updates

• Upgrade the Package: Update to a patched version of the package if available.
• Apply Workarounds: If a patch is not available, apply any recommended workarounds or temporary fixes.

Monitor for Updates

• Stay Informed: Keep an eye on the package repository and CVE database for any updates or new patches.
• Re-evaluate Regularly: Regularly review your dependencies and their associated vulnerabilities.

Example Response

For example, if you receive a medium CVE alert for a popular npm package, you should:

1. Investigate: Verify the CVE details and understand its impact.
2. Update: Apply any available patches or update the package to a newer, secure version.
3. Monitor: Keep monitoring the package for any future vulnerabilities or updates.

Examples

Examples of Medium CVEs

1. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Vulnerabilities that allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
2. Denial of Service (DoS): Vulnerabilities that can be exploited to disrupt the availability of services.
3. Privilege Escalation: Vulnerabilities that enable attackers to gain higher privileges on a system.

Detection Method

Socket integrates with the GitHub Security Advisory Database to ingest Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) and other security advisories.

Medium CVEs:

• Criteria: CVEs with a CVSS score between 4.0 and 6.9.
• Action: Generate a medium-priority alert. Suggest monitoring and scheduled updates.
• Example: "Medium CVE detected in package Z. Schedule an update to mitigate the risk."

By integrating with the GitHub Security Advisory Database, Socket provides robust protection against vulnerabilities in open-source dependencies.

GitHub Security Advisory Database:

The GitHub Security Advisory Database is a comprehensive resource that contains security advisories from various sources, including the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), community submissions, and advisories curated by GitHub. It helps developers stay informed about vulnerabilities that could affect their projects.

For more information about the GitHub Security Advisory Database, visit GitHub Advisory Database.

Additional resources

National Vulnerability Database (NVD):

• The NVD is a comprehensive repository of known vulnerabilities maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It provides detailed information about each CVE, including severity ratings, descriptions, and references.
• NVD Website

MITRE CVE Database:

• MITRE manages the CVE list, which includes identifiers and descriptions of publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
• MITRE CVE Database

GitHub Security Advisories:

• GitHub provides a platform for reporting and tracking vulnerabilities in open-source projects hosted on GitHub. This includes detailed advisories on CVEs affecting these projects.
• GitHub Security Advisories

CVE Details:

• This website provides detailed information about CVEs, including statistics, timelines, and affected products.
• CVE Details

Socket Blog:

• CVE Publication Hits All-Time High: 5,000+ Vulnerabilities Reported in May
• node-ip Maintainer Restores GitHub Repo After Archiving Due to Overblown CVE Rating
• Limitations of CVE-Based Security Scanners: A Deep Dive into 3 Notable Supply Chain Attacks