CVE-2023-38704

import-in-the-middle has unsanitized user controlled input in module generation

Workarounds

• Do not pass any user-supplied input to import(). Instead, verify it against a set of allowed values.
• If using import-in-the-middle and support for EcmaScript Modules is not needed, ensure that none of the following options are set (either via command-line or the NODE_OPTIONS environment variable):

--loader=import-in-the-middle/hook.mjs
--loader import-in-the-middle/hook.mjs

References

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email us at [email protected]

The import-in-the-middle loader works by generating a wrapper module on the fly. The wrapper uses the module specifier to load the original module and add some wrapping code. It allows for remote code execution in cases where an application passes user-supplied input directly to an import() function.

The application does not adequately validate input before processing it, allowing unexpected values to reach sensitive code paths. Typical impact: varies by context: data corruption, logic bypass, or denial of service.

CVE-2023-38704 has a CVSS score of 8.1 (High). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (1.4.2); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

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This vulnerability has been patched in import-in-the-middle version 1.4.2

1. What is CVE-2023-38704? CVE-2023-38704 is a high-severity improper input validation vulnerability in import-in-the-middle (npm), affecting versions <= 1.4.1. It is fixed in 1.4.2. The application does not adequately validate input before processing it, allowing unexpected values to reach sensitive code paths.
2. How severe is CVE-2023-38704? CVE-2023-38704 has a CVSS score of 8.1 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of import-in-the-middle are affected by CVE-2023-38704? import-in-the-middle (npm) versions <= 1.4.1 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2023-38704? Yes. CVE-2023-38704 is fixed in 1.4.2. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2023-38704 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-38704 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2023-38704 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2023-38704? Upgrade import-in-the-middle to 1.4.2 or later.