CVE-2022-23540: auth0 jsonwebtoken Improper Authentication

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2022-23540 is a high (CVSS 7.6) Improper Authentication vulnerability in auth0 jsonwebtoken. EPSS estimates a 0.55% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 44.9% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 22-12-2022
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 13-02-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

In versions `<=8.5.1` of `jsonwebtoken` library, lack of algorithm definition in the `jwt.verify()` function can lead to signature validation bypass due to defaulting to the `none` algorithm for signature verification. Users are affected if you do not specify algorithms in the `jwt.verify()` function. This issue has been fixed, please update to version 9.0.0 which removes the default support for the none algorithm in the `jwt.verify()` method. There will be no impact, if you update to version 9.0.0 and you don’t need to allow for the `none` algorithm. If you need 'none' algorithm, you have to explicitly specify that in `jwt.verify()` options.

• CWE-287Improper AuthenticationWhen an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
• CWE-347Improper Verification of Cryptographic SignatureThe product does not verify, or incorrectly verifies, the cryptographic signature for data.