axios: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes
CVE-2026-101909 is a high-severity improperly controlled modification of object prototype attributes vulnerability in axios, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.3 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected axios versions: >= 1.15.1, < 1.20.0; >= 0.28.0, < 0.34.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.5% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of axios you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
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.
- Attack requirements
- PresentThe target must be in a specific state or configuration for the attack to work.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- LowLimited loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
Axios is a promise-based HTTP client for the browser and Node.js. From 0.28.0 until 0.34.0 and 1.15.1 until 1.20.0, ToFormData processes inherited serialization options and visitor properties supplied through prototype pollution. A separate same-process prototype-pollution flaw supplies inherited dots, indexes, metaTokens, maxDepth, visitor, or Blob values before object serialization. The inherited options alter toFormData field naming and data interpretation, maxDepth can force request failure, Blob changes value handling, and a polluted visitor can execute when an attacker already has the stronger ability to inject a function. Serialized field naming and data interpretation can change, maxDepth can cause request failure, Blob can alter value handling, and a polluted visitor can execute under the stronger function-injection primitive. This issue is fixed in versions 0.34.0 and 1.20.0.
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.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in axios
- 7.0 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.0 High severity
Recent Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes vulnerabilities
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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