CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-25521NVD status: Modified

locutus: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-25521 is a high-severity improperly controlled modification of object prototype attributes vulnerability in locutus from Locutusjs, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected locutus versions: >= 2.0.12, < 2.0.39. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.31% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of locutus 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.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Locutusjslocutus>= 2.0.12, < 2.0.39Not stated
Red HatLogging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShiftNot specified in the recordNot 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
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
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
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.09.4CriticalCNA (github.com)
CVSS 3.18.8HighNVD
CVSS 3.19.3CriticalCNA

Official description

Locutus brings stdlibs of other programming languages to JavaScript for educational purposes. In versions from 2.0.12 to before 2.0.39, a prototype pollution vulnerability exists in locutus. Despite a previous fix that attempted to mitigate prototype pollution by checking whether user input contained a forbidden key, it is still possible to pollute Object.prototype via a crafted input using String.prototype. This issue has been patched in version 2.0.39.

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 locutus

All locutus vulnerabilities

Recent Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes vulnerabilities

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