CVE-2022-37601: Loader utils Prototype Pollution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-76p3-8jx3-jpfq
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-1321
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-37601 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) prototype pollution vulnerability (CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')) affecting Loader utils libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves prototype pollution in webpack loader-utils. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.3, 1.4.1.

CVE-2022-37601 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-37601
GHSA Identifier GHSA-76p3-8jx3-jpfq
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
Affected Product Loader utils
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2022-37601

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

loader-utils fixed: 2.0.3 
npm install loader-utils@2.0.3
loader-utils fixed: 1.4.1 
npm install loader-utils@1.4.1
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 loader-utils

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2022-37601, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls loader-utils

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Loader utils in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.0.3), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls loader-utils 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 Loader utils, 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

Prototype pollution vulnerability in function parseQuery in parseQuery.js in webpack loader-utils prior to version 2.0.3 via the name variable in parseQuery.js.

CVE-2022-37601 Affected Loader utils Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.0.31.4.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
loader-utils
npm/loader-utils
npm
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.0.3
2.0.3
loader-utils
npm/loader-utils
npm
< 1.4.1
1.4.1

References

NVD — CVE-2022-37601 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-37601
Loader utils Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils/issues/212
Loader utils Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils/issues/212#issuecomment-1319192884
Loader utils Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/xmldom/xmldom/issues/436#issuecomment-1319412826
Loader utils Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils/pull/217
Loader utils Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils/pull/220
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils/commit/4504e34c4796a5836ef70458327351675aed48a5
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils/commit/a93cf6f4702012030f6b5ee8340d5c95ec1c7d4c
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils/commit/f4e48a232fae900237c3e5ff7b57ce9e1c734de1
dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/348... WEB
https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3488932.3497769
dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/348... WEB
https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3488932.3497769
Loader utils Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils
Loader utils Release RELEASE
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils/releases/tag/v1.4.1
Loader utils Release RELEASE
https://github.com/webpack/loader-utils/releases/tag/v2.0.3
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/12/msg00044.html
users.encs.concordia.ca/~mmannan/publicatio... WEB
http://users.encs.concordia.ca/~mmannan/publications/JS-vulnerability-aisaccs2022.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-37601?
CVE-2022-37601 is a security vulnerability in Loader utils involving Prototype pollution in webpack loader-utils under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution').
Which Loader utils versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0.3, 1.4.1 across affected packages: loader-utils.
What version fixes CVE-2022-37601?
Upgrading to 2.0.3, 1.4.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is loader-utils affected?
Yes, loader-utils is affected in releases prior to 2.0.3, 1.4.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.0.3, 1.4.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-37601?
CVE-2022-37601 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-37601?
CVE-2022-37601 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-2022-37601?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls loader-utils'. 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 
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  "id" : "GHSA-76p3-8jx3-jpfq",
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/12/msg00044.html"
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    "url" : "http://users.encs.concordia.ca/~mmannan/publications/JS-vulnerability-aisaccs2022.pdf"
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}