CVE-2020-7638 in confinit
Summary
by MITRE
confinit through 0.3.0 is vulnerable to Prototype Pollution.The 'setDeepProperty' function could be tricked into adding or modifying properties of 'Object.prototype' using a '__proto__' payload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7638 affects the confinit library version 0.3.0 and earlier, presenting a critical prototype pollution flaw that can compromise application security. This issue stems from the improper handling of object property assignments within the 'setDeepProperty' function, which fails to validate or sanitize input parameters before processing them. When malicious actors craft specific payloads containing '_proto_' properties, they can manipulate the prototype chain of JavaScript objects, potentially leading to unauthorized access or execution of arbitrary code. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the way JavaScript engines handle prototype inheritance, allowing attackers to inject malicious properties into the Object.prototype object itself.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-471, which categorizes the flaw as a modification of the program's control flow or data structure through improper handling of object prototypes. The attack vector specifically targets the prototype pollution mechanism where attackers can manipulate the _proto_ property to alter the behavior of all objects inheriting from Object.prototype. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can affect multiple components within an application stack, potentially leading to remote code execution or privilege escalation. The flaw exists in the library's configuration handling mechanism, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being processed into object properties.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-7638 extends beyond simple data corruption, as it can enable attackers to manipulate application behavior at a fundamental level. When successful, the prototype pollution allows adversaries to inject malicious properties into the global object prototype, which can then be leveraged to bypass security controls, manipulate application logic, or even execute arbitrary code in the context of the running application. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications that rely on configuration management libraries, as it can enable attackers to modify application behavior through carefully crafted configuration inputs. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring authentication, making it a significant threat to web applications and services that use affected versions of the confinit library.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7638 should focus on immediate version updates to confinit 0.3.1 or later, which contain patches addressing the prototype pollution vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious payloads from reaching the vulnerable functions, particularly when processing user-supplied configuration data. The implementation of strict property validation checks and the use of secure coding practices such as avoiding direct assignment to _proto_ properties can help prevent exploitation. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in object property modifications that may indicate prototype pollution attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.007 for remote code execution and T1566 for initial access through vulnerable software components, emphasizing the need for comprehensive software supply chain security measures and regular vulnerability assessments.