CVE-2025-15284 (Low) detected in qs-6.13.0.tgz, qs-6.14.0.tgz

[mend-bolt-for-github]

CVE-2025-15284 - Low Severity Vulnerability

Vulnerable Libraries - qs-6.13.0.tgz, qs-6.14.0.tgz

qs-6.13.0.tgz

Library home page: https://registry.npmjs.org/qs/-/qs-6.13.0.tgz

Path to dependency file: /ui/package.json

Path to vulnerable library: /ui/package.json

Dependency Hierarchy:

• @postgres.ai/ce-4.0.3.tgz (Root Library)
  • react-scripts-5.0.1.tgz
    • webpack-dev-server-4.15.2.tgz
      • express-4.21.2.tgz
        • ❌ qs-6.13.0.tgz (Vulnerable Library)

qs-6.14.0.tgz

A querystring parser that supports nesting and arrays, with a depth limit

Library home page: https://registry.npmjs.org/qs/-/qs-6.14.0.tgz

Path to dependency file: /ui/package.json

Path to vulnerable library: /ui/package.json

Dependency Hierarchy:

• @postgres.ai/ce-4.0.3.tgz (Root Library)
  • cypress-14.5.4.tgz
    • request-3.0.9.tgz
      • ❌ qs-6.14.0.tgz (Vulnerable Library)

Found in base branch: master

Vulnerability Details

Improper Input Validation vulnerability in qs (parse modules) allows HTTP DoS.This issue affects qs: < 6.14.1.
Summary
The arrayLimit option in qs did not enforce limits for bracket notation (a[]=1&a[]=2), only for indexed notation (a[0]=1). This is a consistency bug; arrayLimit should apply uniformly across all array notations.
Note: The default parameterLimit of 1000 effectively mitigates the DoS scenario originally described. With default options, bracket notation cannot produce arrays larger than parameterLimit regardless of arrayLimit, because each a[]=valueconsumes one parameter slot. The severity has been reduced accordingly.
Details
The arrayLimit option only checked limits for indexed notation (a[0]=1&a[1]=2) but did not enforce it for bracket notation (a[]=1&a[]=2).
Vulnerable code (lib/parse.js:159-162):
if (root === '[]' && options.parseArrays) {
obj = utils.combine([], leaf); // No arrayLimit check
}
Working code (lib/parse.js:175):
else if (index <= options.arrayLimit) { // Limit checked here
obj = [];
obj[index] = leaf;
}
The bracket notation handler at line 159 uses utils.combine([], leaf) without validating against options.arrayLimit, while indexed notation at line 175 checks index <= options.arrayLimit before creating arrays.
PoC
const qs = require('qs');
const result = qs.parse('a[]=1&a[]=2&a[]=3&a[]=4&a[]=5&a[]=6', { arrayLimit: 5 });
console.log(result.a.length); // Output: 6 (should be max 5)
Note on parameterLimit interaction: The original advisory's "DoS demonstration" claimed a length of 10,000, but parameterLimit (default: 1000) caps parsing to 1,000 parameters. With default options, the actual output is 1,000, not 10,000.
Impact
Consistency bug in arrayLimit enforcement. With default parameterLimit, the practical DoS risk is negligible since parameterLimit already caps the total number of parsed parameters (and thus array elements from bracket notation). The risk increases only when parameterLimit is explicitly set to a very high value.

Publish Date: 2025-12-29

URL: CVE-2025-15284

CVSS 3 Score Details (3.7)

Base Score Metrics:

• Exploitability Metrics:
  • Attack Vector: Network
  • Attack Complexity: High
  • Privileges Required: None
  • User Interaction: None
  • Scope: Unchanged
• Impact Metrics:
  • Confidentiality Impact: None
  • Integrity Impact: None
  • Availability Impact: Low

For more information on CVSS3 Scores, click here.

Suggested Fix

Type: Upgrade version

Origin: GHSA-6rw7-vpxm-498p

Release Date: 2025-12-29

Fix Resolution: qs - 6.14.1,qs - 6.14.1,https://github.com/ljharb/qs.git - v6.14.1

---

Step up your Open Source Security Game with Mend here

[mend-bolt-for-github]

✔️ This issue was automatically closed by Mend because the vulnerable library in the specific branch(es) was either marked as ignored or it is no longer part of the Mend inventory.

[mend-bolt-for-github]

ℹ️ This issue was automatically re-opened by Mend because the vulnerable library in the specific branch(es) has been detected in the Mend inventory.