node-express-dev-env: Node.js Express NODE_ENV Development Mode

2025-08-01 node express dev env PoC Public

Description

The Node.js application runs in development mode, which can expose sensitive information, such as source code and secrets, depending on the application.

PoC

id: node-express-dev-env

info:
  name: Node.js Express NODE_ENV Development Mode
  author: FLX
  severity: medium
  description: |
    The Node.js application runs in development mode, which can expose sensitive information, such as source code and secrets, depending on the application.
  reference:
    - https://www.invicti.com/web-vulnerability-scanner/vulnerabilities/express-development-mode-is-enabled/
    - https://www.synopsys.com/blogs/software-security/nodejs-mean-stack-vulnerabilities.html
  classification:
    cwe-id: CWE-209
  metadata:
    verified: true
    max-request: 2
    shodan-query: "X-Powered-By: Express"
  tags: nodejs,express,misconfig,devops,cicd,trace,vuln
flow: http(1) && http(2)

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{{BaseURL}}"

    matchers:
      - type: dsl
        internal: true
        dsl:
          - "contains(tolower(all_headers), 'x-powered-by: express')"

  - raw:
      - |
        GET / HTTP/1.1
        Host: {{Hostname}}
        Content-Type: application/json
        Connection: close

        t

    matchers:
      - type: dsl
        dsl:
          - "status_code==400"
          - "contains(body, 'SyntaxError: Unexpected token')"
          - "contains(tolower(all_headers), 'x-powered-by: express')"
        condition: and
# digest: 4b0a00483046022100f6555d74ecbbbf7702fc50ced0685308baa30344ad26307b7064c0b0168f5671022100b051ac016fa535c0cb1c95110aed07631f611da737f0c7bf1c8db479d9cecba6:922c64590222798bb761d5b6d8e72950

# Visit https://trap.biu.life/ to view exploit trends for this vulnerability.

References

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