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@Copilot Copilot AI commented Sep 23, 2025

This PR provides a comprehensive security analysis of the AsyncAPI Generator project, identifying critical vulnerabilities and attack vectors that require immediate attention.

What was analyzed

The analysis examined the entire codebase with focus on:

  • Template loading and execution mechanisms
  • NPM package installation processes
  • File operations and path handling
  • CLI parameter parsing and input validation
  • Dependency vulnerabilities
  • Container security

Critical security findings

The analysis revealed several critical vulnerabilities that pose significant security risks:

1. Template Execution Without Sandboxing (CRITICAL)

Templates and hooks execute with full Node.js privileges, allowing arbitrary code execution:

// apps/generator/lib/hooksRegistry.js:44
delete require.cache[require.resolve(filePath)];
const mod = require(filePath); // Executes arbitrary code

2. Automatic NPM Package Installation (CRITICAL)

The generator automatically installs user-specified npm packages without verification:

// apps/generator/lib/generator.js:617
const installResult = await arb.reify({
  add: [this.templateName], // User-controlled package name
  saveType: 'prod',
  save: false
});

3. Critical Dependency Vulnerabilities

  • JSONPath Plus RCE (CVE) - Remote code execution in jsonpath-plus ≤10.2.0
  • Lodash Command Injection (CVE) - Command injection in lodash.template
  • 34 total vulnerabilities identified by npm audit

4. Path Traversal Vulnerabilities (HIGH)

Insufficient path validation allows writing files outside target directories:

// apps/generator/lib/generator.js:854
const targetFile = path.resolve(this.targetDir, relativeBaseDir, newFileName);
// Can be exploited with "../../../etc/passwd" patterns

Documentation added

This PR adds three comprehensive security documents:

  1. ATTACK_SURFACE_ANALYSIS.md - Complete security analysis with risk assessment matrix and detailed vulnerability descriptions
  2. SECURITY_TECHNICAL_DETAILS.md - Technical implementation details, code examples, and exploitation scenarios
  3. SECURITY_CHECKLIST.md - Prioritized implementation checklist with timelines for addressing vulnerabilities

Risk assessment

The analysis uses a risk matrix approach, identifying:

  • 3 Critical-level vulnerabilities requiring immediate action
  • 2 High-level vulnerabilities needing urgent attention
  • 5 Medium/Low-level issues for future remediation

Recommended immediate actions

  1. Implement template sandboxing using VM2 or similar isolation
  2. Update all vulnerable dependencies especially jsonpath-plus and lodash.template
  3. Add comprehensive path validation to prevent directory traversal
  4. Implement template verification with digital signatures or trusted registries

Impact

These vulnerabilities could allow attackers to:

  • Execute arbitrary code on systems running the generator
  • Overwrite critical system files
  • Exfiltrate sensitive data
  • Compromise CI/CD pipelines using the generator

The documentation provides a clear roadmap for addressing these security concerns in a prioritized manner.


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changeset-bot bot commented Sep 23, 2025

⚠️ No Changeset found

Latest commit: 35da202

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@Copilot Copilot AI changed the title [WIP] What is the attack surface of this project? Security: Add comprehensive attack surface analysis and security documentation Sep 23, 2025
@Copilot Copilot AI requested a review from Florence-Njeri September 23, 2025 18:27
Copilot finished work on behalf of Florence-Njeri September 23, 2025 18:27
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