CVE-2024-39014 in utils
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2024
ahilfoley cahil/utils v2.3.2 was discovered to contain a prototype pollution via the function set. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via injecting arbitrary properties.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-39014 resides within the ahilfoley cahil/utils library version 2.3.2, specifically through the set function implementation that suffers from prototype pollution. This type of vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to manipulate the prototype of built-in JavaScript objects, thereby affecting the behavior of all instances that inherit from these prototypes. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the library's property assignment mechanism, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary properties into object prototypes through carefully crafted inputs.
Prototype pollution vulnerabilities occur when applications fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied data before using it to set properties on objects. In this case, the set function within the cahil/utils library does not adequately protect against malicious property injection attacks that can modify the Object.prototype or other core JavaScript objects. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-471 which specifically addresses the issue of "Modification of Assumed-Immutable Data" and falls within the broader category of prototype pollution attacks that have been documented in various security frameworks. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can inject properties into the prototype chain that will then be inherited by all objects created from that prototype, potentially leading to unexpected behavior or complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-39014 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to include potential denial of service conditions that can severely disrupt application functionality. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious properties that may cause applications to crash or behave unpredictably, particularly in environments where the polluted prototype is used in critical code paths. The vulnerability can be exploited across various attack vectors including web applications, server-side processing, and any system that relies on the affected library for property manipulation. According to ATT&CK framework category T1548.005, this vulnerability enables privilege escalation through code injection techniques, while also supporting T1499.004 for denial of service attacks. The potential for arbitrary code execution makes this particularly dangerous in environments where the library is used in security-critical applications or where untrusted input is processed through the vulnerable set function.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-39014 should focus on immediate library version updates to address the prototype pollution issue, while also implementing defensive programming practices such as input validation, property name sanitization, and prototype chain integrity checks. Organizations should conduct thorough code reviews to identify all usages of the affected library and implement proper sandboxing techniques where possible. The vulnerability can be addressed through the implementation of prototype pollution prevention mechanisms including the use of Object.freeze() or Object.seal() on critical objects, proper validation of property names before assignment, and ensuring that user input is never directly used to modify object prototypes. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous property assignments that may indicate prototype pollution attempts, and regular security audits should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other third-party libraries that may be susceptible to the same class of attack.