The npm package xmlhttprequest-ssl provides XMLHttpRequest functionality for Node.js environments, enabling developers to make HTTP requests, similar to how browsers interact with web servers. Version 1.5.1, released on May 27, 2015, doesn't list specific dependency updates or changes. However, if we compare it against the previous stable version, developers should generally consider the following:
Without specific details on the prior version, it's challenging to pinpoint exact differences. Typically, updates to libraries like xmlhttprequest-ssl involve bug fixes (addressing potential issues like memory leaks or incorrect header handling), security patches (crucial for mitigating vulnerabilities related to data transmission or processing), and potential performance improvements (optimizing resource usage or response times). Furthermore, new features might be introduced, though without explicit documentation, this remains speculative.
Developers considering using xmlhttprequest-ssl should prioritize checking the changelog or release notes (if available) to understand the concrete modifications in version 1.5.1 compared to earlier versions. If using the library in production, evaluate the update's impact on existing code and test thoroughly. Because this package provides essential utility for server-side HTTP communication within Node.js apps and backend systems, evaluating updates of such components is important. Verify its compatibility with your current Node.js version and dependencies, to avoid integration hassles.
All the vulnerabilities related to the version 1.5.1 of the package
Improper Certificate Validation in xmlhttprequest-ssl
The xmlhttprequest-ssl package before 1.6.1 for Node.js disables SSL certificate validation by default, because rejectUnauthorized (when the property exists but is undefined) is considered to be false within the https.request function of Node.js. In other words, no certificate is ever rejected.
xmlhttprequest and xmlhttprequest-ssl vulnerable to Arbitrary Code Injection
This affects the package xmlhttprequest before 1.7.0; all versions of package xmlhttprequest-ssl. Provided requests are sent synchronously (async=False on xhr.open), malicious user input flowing into xhr.send could result in arbitrary code being injected and run.
