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CVE-2021-21368
March 12, 2021
msgpack5 is a msgpack v5 implementation for node.js and the browser. In msgpack5 before versions 3.6.1, 4.5.1, and 5.2.1 there is a "Prototype Poisoning" vulnerability. When msgpack5 decodes a map containing a key "proto", it assigns the decoded value to proto. 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. 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). This has been fixed in msgpack5 version 3.6.1, 4.5.1, and 5.2.1. See the referenced GitHub Security Advisory for an example and more details.
Affected Packages
msgpack5 (CDN_JS):
Affected version(s) >=5.0.0 <5.2.1
Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 5.2.1
msgpack5 (CDN_JS):
Affected version(s) >=4.0.0 <4.5.1
Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 4.5.1
msgpack5 (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=4.0.0 <4.5.1
Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 4.5.1
msgpack5 (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=1.0.0 <3.6.1
Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.6.1
msgpack5 (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=5.0.0 <5.2.1
Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 5.2.1
Additional Notes
The description of this vulnerability differs from MITRE.
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CVSS v4
Base Score:
6
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
HIGH
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
LOW
User Interaction
PASSIVE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
LOW
Vulnerable System Integrity
HIGH
Vulnerable System Availability
HIGH
Subsequent System Confidentiality
NONE
Subsequent System Integrity
NONE
Subsequent System Availability
NONE
CVSS v3
Base Score:
6.7
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
HIGH
Privileges Required
LOW
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
LOW
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
CVSS v2
Base Score:
6.5
Access Vector
NETWORK
Access Complexity
LOW
Authentication
SINGLE
Confidentiality Impact
PARTIAL
Integrity Impact
PARTIAL
Availability Impact
PARTIAL
Weakness Type (CWE)
Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes
Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
EPSS
Base Score:
1.33