CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-41879NVD status: Modified

parse-server: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-41879 is a critical-severity improperly controlled modification of object prototype attributes vulnerability in parse-server from Parse-community, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected parse-server versions: < 4.10.20; >= 5.0.0, < 5.3.3. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.98% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 63% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of parse-server you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Parse-communityparse-server< 4.10.20; >= 5.0.0, < 5.3.3Not stated

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
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.2HighCNA (github.com)
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD

Official description

Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. In versions prior to 5.3.3 or 4.10.20, a compromised Parse Server Cloud Code Webhook target endpoint allows an attacker to use prototype pollution to bypass the Parse Server `requestKeywordDenylist` option. This issue has been patched in versions 5.3.3 and 4.10.20. There are no known workarounds.

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

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in parse-server

All parse-server vulnerabilities

Recent Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes vulnerabilities

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