CVE-2021-23397: @ianwalter/merge @ianwalter/merge Prototype Pollution Vulnerability

MODERATE

Advisory Identifier: GHSA-42m6-g935-5vmq

CVSS 5.6

Published 2022-07-26

Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-23397 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.6) @ianwalter/merge prototype pollution vulnerability (CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')) affecting @ianwalter/merge libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves @ianwalter/merge prototype pollution via `merge` function. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2021-23397 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-23397

GHSA Identifier GHSA-42m6-g935-5vmq

Severity MODERATE

CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.6

CWE Classification CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')

Affected Product @ianwalter/merge

Package Ecosystem npm

Published Date 2022-07-26

Last Updated 2022-08-11

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.6

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)

Attack Complexity High (AC:H)

Privileges Required None (PR:N)

User Interaction None (UI:N)

Scope Unchanged (S:U)

Confidentiality Low (C:L)

Integrity Low (I:L)

Availability Low (A:L)

How to Fix CVE-2021-23397

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected @ianwalter/merge dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

@ianwalter/merge fixed: Latest secure release

npm install @ianwalter/merge@Latest secure release

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

npm ls @ianwalter/merge

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2021-23397, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls @ianwalter/merge

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of @ianwalter/merge in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls @ianwalter/merge command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution'), where the product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype. In @ianwalter/merge, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

All versions of package @ianwalter/merge are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution via the main (`merge`) function. @ianwalter/merge is [deprecated](https://github.com/ianwalter/merge/blob/master/README.md) and the maintainer suggests using [@generates/merger](https://github.com/generates/generates/tree/main/packages/merger) instead.

CVE-2021-23397 Affected @ianwalter/merge Versions

1 component(s)

Product / Package	Ecosystem	Affected Versions	Fixed Version
@ianwalter/merge npm/@ianwalter/merge	npm	≤ 9.0.1

References

NVD — CVE-2021-23397 NVD

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23397

@ianwalter/merge Source Repository REPOSITORY

https://github.com/ianwalter/merge

@ianwalter/merge Security Information SECURITY

https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-IANWALTERMERGE-1311022

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-23397?

CVE-2021-23397 is a security vulnerability in @ianwalter/merge involving @ianwalter/merge Prototype Pollution via `merge` function under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution').

Which @ianwalter/merge versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: @ianwalter/merge.

What version fixes CVE-2021-23397?

Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.

Is @ianwalter/merge affected?

Yes, @ianwalter/merge is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-23397?

CVE-2021-23397 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.6 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L.

What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-23397?

CVE-2021-23397 is classified under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution') (The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype.).

How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2021-23397?

Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls @ianwalter/merge'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.

Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema

Normalized schema output

View Raw JSON

{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-42m6-g935-5vmq",
  "modified" : "2022-08-11T22:04:47Z",
  "published" : "2022-07-26T00:01:05Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-23397" ],
  "summary" : "@ianwalter/merge Prototype Pollution via `merge` function",
  "details" : "All versions of package @ianwalter/merge are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution via the main (`merge`) function. @ianwalter/merge is [deprecated](https://github.com/ianwalter/merge/blob/master/README.md) and the maintainer suggests using [@generates/merger](https://github.com/generates/generates/tree/main/packages/merger) instead.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "@ianwalter/merge"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "9.0.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23397"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ianwalter/merge"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-IANWALTERMERGE-1311022"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1321" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-26T19:37:36Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-07-25T14:15:00Z"
  }
}

CVSS V3

5.6 MODERATE