CVE-2022-25296 in bodymen
Summary
by MITRE • 03/17/2022
The package bodymen from 0.0.0 are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution via the handler function which could be tricked into adding or modifying properties of Object.prototype using a __proto__ payload. **Note:** This vulnerability derives from an incomplete fix to [CVE-2019-10792](https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-BODYMEN-548897)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25296 affects the bodymen package version 0.0.0 and represents a prototype pollution vulnerability that stems from an inadequate remediation of a previous security issue. This flaw resides within the handler function of the package and enables attackers to manipulate the Object.prototype object through malicious _proto_ payloads. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical weakness in how the package handles incoming data structures, particularly when processing request bodies that contain specially crafted property names. The issue is particularly concerning because it builds upon a known vulnerability from 2019, indicating that the fix implemented previously was insufficient to address all attack vectors. Prototype pollution vulnerabilities occur when an application fails to properly sanitize user input before using it to set object properties, allowing attackers to inject properties into the prototype chain of objects.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves exploiting the JavaScript language feature that allows direct access to object prototypes through the _proto_ property. When the handler function processes incoming data, it fails to validate or sanitize property names that could contain prototype-polluting payloads. Attackers can craft requests with property names containing _proto_ or similar prototype-related keys that, when processed by the vulnerable package, result in modifications to Object.prototype itself. This enables attackers to inject malicious properties into all objects that inherit from Object.prototype, potentially leading to various downstream security issues including arbitrary code execution, denial of service, or data manipulation. The vulnerability specifically affects how the bodymen package parses and handles request bodies, making it particularly dangerous in web applications that rely on this package for request processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-25296 extends beyond simple data corruption, as prototype pollution can lead to severe security consequences in applications that depend on predictable object behavior. When Object.prototype is polluted, it affects all objects in the application that inherit from it, potentially causing unexpected behavior in application logic, authentication mechanisms, or data validation routines. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat that can affect multiple parts of an application stack, as any code that relies on object property access patterns may be impacted. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server-side applications where the bodymen package is used to parse HTTP request bodies, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including API endpoints, form submissions, or any input that gets processed by the vulnerable handler function. The vulnerability's persistence in the codebase despite previous remediation efforts indicates potential gaps in security testing and validation processes.
Mitigation strategies for this prototype pollution vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input sanitization and validation mechanisms. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of the bodymen package if available, or implement defensive programming techniques such as using Object.freeze() or Object.preventExtensions() on objects before processing them. The implementation of prototype pollution protection middleware can help detect and block malicious payloads before they reach the application logic. Security teams should also consider implementing strict property name validation and sanitization routines that prevent _proto_ and similar prototype-polluting keys from being processed. Additionally, following the principle of least privilege and implementing proper input validation at multiple layers of the application can help reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-471, which describes the weakness of adding or modifying a structure that is used as a prototype, and represents a pattern that falls under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based execution. Organizations should conduct thorough code reviews and security assessments to identify all instances where prototype pollution vulnerabilities may exist, particularly in packages that handle user input or external data processing.