Hono: Query parser reads parameters after the URL fragment, causing cache-key and proxy interpretation differentials

Hono is a Web application framework that provides support for any JavaScript runtime. Prior to 4.13.5, Hono's query helpers treat a question mark after a literal hash fragment as the start of a query string, so the application can read request parameters that browsers, new URL(), reverse proxies, filtering rules, parameter allow and deny lists, access logging, request validation, and other middleware do not observe. The Cache Middleware removes the fragment when building its cache key, allowing a response influenced by parameters inside the fragment to be stored under a key that omits those parameters and later served to other users. This can bypass filtering and auditing, poison cached responses, and enable stored cross-site scripting when an affected parameter is reflected into cached HTML without escaping. Exploitation requires a runtime and intermediary path that passes a literal hash character through to the request URL; Cloudflare Workers and intermediaries that strip fragments are not affected. This issue is fixed in version 4.13.5.

The product acts as an intermediary HTTP agent (such as a proxy or firewall) in the data flow between two entities such as a client and server, but it does not interpret malformed HTTP requests or responses in ways that are consistent with how the messages will be processed by those entities that are at the ultimate destination.

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.