CVE-2022-25878 in protobufjs
Summary
by MITRE • 05/28/2022
The package protobufjs before 6.11.3 are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution which can allow an attacker to add/modify properties of the Object.prototype. This vulnerability can occur in multiple ways: 1. by providing untrusted user input to util.setProperty or to ReflectionObject.setParsedOption functions 2. by parsing/loading .proto files
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25878 affects the protobufjs library version 6.11.3 and earlier, presenting a critical prototype pollution flaw that enables attackers to manipulate the Object.prototype object. This security weakness arises from insufficient input validation within the library's internal functions, specifically in util.setProperty and ReflectionObject.setParsedOption methods. The vulnerability stems from the library's failure to properly sanitize user-provided data when processing protocol buffer definitions, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject arbitrary properties into the prototype chain. The flaw is categorized under CWE-471 as "Modification of Assumed-Immutable Data" and represents a significant threat to applications relying on protobufjs for data serialization and deserialization operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when untrusted input flows through the library's parsing functions, particularly during .proto file processing or when setting properties via the affected utility methods. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious properties into the Object.prototype, which then propagates to all objects inheriting from it. This allows for various malicious activities including but not limited to method overloading, property manipulation, and potential execution of unintended code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered during normal library operations when parsing user-supplied protocol buffer definitions, making it difficult to detect and prevent through conventional input validation approaches. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" under the T1068 category, as prototype pollution can be used to gain elevated privileges within applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-25878 extends beyond simple data corruption, as it can lead to complete application compromise when exploited in conjunction with other vulnerabilities. Applications using vulnerable versions of protobufjs may experience unexpected behavior, data manipulation, or even remote code execution depending on how the affected system handles parsed protocol buffer data. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications that depend on protobufjs for communication protocols, particularly in environments where user input is processed through protocol buffer parsing. This includes web applications, microservices, and backend systems that serialize and deserialize data using protocol buffers, making the attack surface particularly broad. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks, as prototype pollution can serve as a foundation for privilege escalation, information disclosure, or denial of service conditions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25878 primarily involve upgrading to protobufjs version 6.11.3 or later, which includes patches addressing the prototype pollution vulnerability. Organizations should conduct thorough dependency audits to identify all systems using vulnerable versions and implement immediate patching procedures. Additionally, implementing strict input validation at application boundaries can provide defense-in-depth measures, though this approach alone may not fully protect against all exploitation vectors. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual property additions to prototype objects, as this behavior is indicative of prototype pollution attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as prototype lockdown mechanisms and content security policies to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date dependencies and implementing robust security practices in software supply chain management, particularly for widely-used libraries that handle untrusted data inputs.