protobufjs: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes
CVE-2022-25878 is a high-severity improperly controlled modification of object prototype attributes vulnerability in protobufjs, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 6.11.3 as the first without the flaw, so updating protobufjs to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.33% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 84% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update protobufjs to 6.11.3 or a later version.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protobufjs | protobufjs | before 6.11.3 | 6.11.3 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.2 | High | CNA (snyk.io) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 5.0 | Medium | NVD |
Official description
The package protobufjs before 6.11.3 are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution which can allow an attacker to add/modify properties of the Object.prototype. This vulnerability can occur in multiple ways: 1. by providing untrusted user input to util.setProperty or to ReflectionObject.setParsedOption functions 2. by parsing/loading .proto files
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes
The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- By freezing the object prototype first (for example, Object.freeze(Object.prototype)), modification of the prototype becomes impossible.
- By blocking modifications of attributes that resolve to object prototype, such as proto or prototype, this weakness can be mitigated.
- When handling untrusted objects, validating using a schema can be used.
More Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes vulnerabilities (CWE-1321)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/commit/b5f1391dff5515894830a6570e6d73f5511b2e8fThird Party Advisory
- github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/pull/1731Third Party Advisory
- snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JAVA-ORGWEBJARSNPM-2841507Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-PROTOBUFJS-2441248Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Recent Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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