CVE-2024-53441 identifies a critical cryptographic vulnerability in the cookie-encrypter library version 1.0.1, specifically within the decryptCookie function in index.js. The vulnerability arises from improper cryptographic handling that allows an attacker to execute a bit flipping attack on encrypted cookies. Bit flipping attacks exploit malleability in encryption schemes, enabling attackers to alter ciphertext bits to produce predictable changes in the decrypted plaintext without knowing the encryption key. This can lead to unauthorized modification of cookie data, potentially bypassing authentication, escalating privileges, or injecting malicious data. The CVSS 3.1 score of 9.1 reflects a network attack vector with no privileges or user interaction required, and a high impact on confidentiality and integrity, but no impact on availability. The affected library is commonly used in Node.js environments to secure cookies, meaning many web applications relying on this package for session management or sensitive data protection are vulnerable. No patches have been released yet, and no exploits are known in the wild, but the vulnerability's nature demands urgent attention. The CWE-327 classification indicates the root cause is related to the use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm or implementation. This vulnerability highlights the importance of using authenticated encryption schemes that prevent ciphertext manipulation. Organizations using cookie-encrypter should audit their usage and prepare to update or replace the library to mitigate risk.

The impact of CVE-2024-53441 is significant for organizations worldwide that use the cookie-encrypter library in their web applications. Successful exploitation allows attackers to manipulate encrypted cookies, potentially leading to unauthorized access, privilege escalation, session hijacking, or data tampering. This compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and sensitive data, undermining trust and security controls. Since the vulnerability does not affect availability, denial-of-service is not a primary concern, but the breach of confidentiality and integrity can lead to severe consequences such as data breaches, regulatory non-compliance, and reputational damage. Given the widespread use of Node.js and JavaScript frameworks globally, many organizations, especially those with customer-facing web applications, are at risk. Attackers can exploit this remotely without authentication or user interaction, increasing the threat surface. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate impact but also means organizations must act proactively to prevent future attacks.

To mitigate CVE-2024-53441, organizations should: 1) Monitor for and apply any official patches or updates from the cookie-encrypter maintainers as soon as they become available. 2) If patches are not yet available, consider temporarily disabling or replacing the cookie-encrypter library with a more secure alternative that uses authenticated encryption (e.g., AES-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305) to prevent bit flipping attacks. 3) Implement additional integrity verification mechanisms such as HMACs on cookie data to detect tampering. 4) Review and harden session management practices, including setting secure cookie flags (HttpOnly, Secure, SameSite) to reduce attack vectors. 5) Conduct code audits to identify any other cryptographic weaknesses or improper usage of encryption libraries. 6) Increase monitoring and alerting for unusual cookie modification patterns or authentication anomalies. 7) Educate development teams on secure cryptographic practices and the risks of malleable encryption schemes. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on cryptographic integrity and proactive library management.