GHSA-gmjw-49p4-pcfm

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    GHSA-gmjw-49p4-pcfm

    Published: 12 Mar 2021Last Modified: 10 Sept 2026

    Summary: Prototype poisoning

    Details: ### Impact The issue is as follows: when `msgpack5` decodes a map containing a key `"__proto__"`, it assigns the decoded value to `__proto__`. As you are no doubt aware, `Object.prototype.__proto__` is an accessor property for the receiver's prototype. If the value corresponding to the key `__proto__` decodes to an object or `null`, `msgpack5` sets the decoded object's prototype to that value. An attacker who can submit crafted MessagePack data to a service can use this to produce values that appear to be of other types; may have unexpected prototype properties and methods (for example `length`, numeric properties, and `push` et al if `__proto__`'s value decodes to an `Array`); and/or may throw unexpected exceptions when used (for example if the `__proto__` value decodes to a `Map` or `Date`). Other unexpected behavior might be produced for other types. There is no effect on the global prototype. An example: ```js const msgpack5 = require('msgpack5')(); const payload = {}; Object.defineProperty(payload, '__proto__', { value: new Map().set(1, 2), enumerable: true }); const encoded = msgpack5.encode(payload); console.log(encoded); // <Buffer 81 a9 5f 5f 70 72 6f 74 6f 5f 5f 81 01 02> const decoded = msgpack5.decode(encoded); // decoded's prototype has been overwritten console.log(Object.getPrototypeOf(decoded)); // Map(1) { 1 => 2 } console.log(decoded.get); // [Function: get] // decoded appears to most common typechecks to be a Map console.log(decoded instanceof Map); // true console.log(decoded.toString()); // [object Map] console.log(Object.prototype.toString.call(decoded)); // [object Map] console.log(decoded.constructor.name); // Map console.log(Object.getPrototypeOf(decoded).constructor.name); // Map // decoded is not, however, a Map console.log(Object.getPrototypeOf(decoded) === Map.prototype); // false // using decoded as though it were a Map throws try { decoded.get(1); } catch (error) { console.log(error); // TypeError: Method Map.prototype.get called // on incompatible receiver #<Map> } try { decoded.size; } catch (error) { console.log(error); // TypeError: Method get Map.prototype.size // called on incompatible receiver #<Map> } // re-encoding the decoded value throws try { msgpack5.encode(decoded); } catch (error) { console.log(error); // TypeError: Method Map.prototype.entries // called on incompatible receiver #<Map> } ``` This "prototype poisoning" is sort of a very limited inversion of a prototype pollution attack. Only the decoded value's prototype is affected, and it can only be set to `msgpack5` values (though if the victim makes use of custom codecs, anything could be a `msgpack5` value). We have not found a way to escalate this to true prototype pollution (absent other bugs in the consumer's code). ### Patches Versions v5.2.1, v4.5.1, v3.6.1 include the fix. ### Workarounds Always validate incoming data after parsing before doing any processing. ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [example link to repo](http://example.com) * Email us at [example email address](mailto:[email protected])

    Affected packages

    Package

    Name: msgpack5

    Purl: pkg:npm/msgpack5

    Affected ranges

    Type: SEMVER

    Events:

    Introduced- 0
    Fixed -3.6.1

    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
    GHSA-gmjw-49p4-pcfm | CVE-DB