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GHSA-9j3m-fr7q-jxfw
No affected components available
In the context of using MD5 to generate filenames for cache keys, there are significant collision hazards that need to be considered. MD5, or Message Digest Algorithm 5, is a widely known cryptographic hash function that produces a 128-bit hash value. However, MD5 is no longer considered secure against well-funded opponents due to its vulnerability to collision attacks.
Understanding Collisions
A collision in hashing occurs when two different inputs produce the same hash output. For MD5, this means that it is theoretically possible, and even practical, to find two distinct cache keys that result in the same MD5 hash. This vulnerability has been well-documented and exploited in various security contexts.
Implications for Cache Systems
In a cache system where filenames are derived from the MD5 hash of cache keys, a collision could lead to several critical issues:
Data Integrity Risks: If two different keys collide, they will map to the same filename. This could result in data being overwritten incorrectly, leading to data loss or corruption. Security Vulnerabilities: An attacker could potentially exploit collisions to manipulate cache data. For instance, by crafting a key that collides with another key, an attacker might gain unauthorized access to sensitive cached information or inject malicious data.
Unpredictable Behavior: Collisions can cause the cache system to behave unpredictably, as it may retrieve or store data in unintended files, leading to system instability or incorrect behavior.
Mitigation Strategies
To mitigate these risks, consider the following strategies:
Use a More Secure Hash Function: Replace MD5 with a more secure hash function like SHA-256, which has a significantly lower probability of collisions and is resistant to known attack vectors.
code at:https://github.com/beego/beego/blob/bb72dc27ac3970e51d38ee52fc3dc1465ae25b9d/client/cache/file.go#L126
The vulnerability can be exploited over the network without needing physical access. It is easy for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker does not need any special privileges or access rights. No user interaction is needed for the attacker to exploit this vulnerability.
Limited exploitation activity has been observed. Close monitoring and planned remediation are recommended.
The exploit probability is very low. The vulnerability is unlikely to be exploited in the next 30 days.
We did not find any exploit available. Neither in GitHub repositories nor in the Exploit-Database.
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