Amazon OpenSearch Service: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes
CVE-2026-18420 is a high-severity improperly controlled modification of object prototype attributes vulnerability in Amazon OpenSearch Service from AWS, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 3.8.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Amazon OpenSearch Service to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.96% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 62% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Amazon OpenSearch Service to 3.8.0 or a later version.
- Update OpenSearch Dashboards to 3.8.0 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on aws.amazon.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS | Amazon OpenSearch Service | 3.0.0 up to, but not including, 3.8.0 | 3.8.0 |
| OpenSearch | OpenSearch Dashboards | 3.0.0 up to, but not including, 3.8.0 | 3.8.0 |
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
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- 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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.7 | High | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | CNA |
Official description
Improper input validation in the Time Series Visual Builder (TSVB) plugin in OpenSearch Dashboards allows an authenticated remote user to execute arbitrary code on the server via a crafted JSON payload to the metrics visualization API endpoint. This issue is a form of prototype pollution that enables remote code execution. To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to OpenSearch Dashboards 3.8 or later.
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: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in Amazon OpenSearch Service
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
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