Critical Vulnerability Found in Mongoose Library for MongoDB

2025-01-21

Learn about the critical risks in widely used open-source components and how CloudGuard can help secure application vulnerabilities.

A critical vulnerability has been discovered in the Mongoose library, which is widely used for MongoDB database modeling in Node.js environments. The flaw involves improper handling of nested $where filters with the populate() method, allowing attackers to inject malicious queries, manipulate search results, and access sensitive data. With a CVSS score of 9.0, this vulnerability affects millions of applications across various industries. Organizations are advised to assess their applications and apply mitigations such as strict query validation, limiting database access, deploying web application firewalls, and auditing for vulnerabilities while awaiting a patch from the developers.

Key Facts

Risks:

Sensitive Data, Web App/Website Vulnerability, Open Source, Injection

Keywords:

Mongoose, MongoDB, CVE-2025-2306, Node.js, Vulnerability, Data Breach, Database Security

CVE:

CVE-2025-2306

Affected:

Mongoose, MongoDB, Node.js

Article Body

Critical Vulnerability in Mongoose Library

A critical vulnerability has been identified in the Mongoose library, which is extensively used for MongoDB database modeling in Node.js environments. This flaw, labeled CVE-2025-2306, has a high severity with a CVSS score of 9.0. It poses significant risks to millions of applications worldwide.

Nature of the Vulnerability

The vulnerability arises from the improper handling of nested $where filters when used with the populate() method in the Mongoose library. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious queries into search filters, which can lead to manipulated search results and unauthorized access to sensitive data, such as user credentials and personal information.

Impact on Industries

Mongoose is widely adopted across various industries, from startups to large enterprise systems. The vulnerability has raised significant concerns within the developer and cybersecurity communities due to its potential to bypass application security measures, impersonate users, and compromise sensitive workflows.

Scale of Exposure

According to ZoomEye, a cybersecurity search engine, over 1.4 million instances of applications using the Mongoose HTTP server are potentially exposed to this vulnerability. This makes it imperative for organizations to take immediate action to secure their systems.

Recommended Mitigation Steps

While the developers of Mongoose are working on a patched version, security experts recommend the following interim measures:

• Implement Strict Query Validation: Ensure all user inputs are validated, particularly those involving $where clauses or similar operators.
• Limit Direct Database Access: Restrict MongoDB database access to trusted IP addresses and networks.
• Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): Use WAFs to detect and block anomalous queries that may exploit this vulnerability.
• Audit Application Vulnerabilities: Conduct comprehensive security audits to identify and address other potential vulnerabilities.

Organizations are urged to assess their application stacks and apply these mitigations until a patch becomes available to protect against potential exploitation.

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