CVE-2023-0842: Xml2js Xml2js Is Vulnerable To Prototype Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-776f-qx25-q3cc
Share
CVSS 5.3
CWE-1321
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-0842 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) xml2js is vulnerable to prototype vulnerability (CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')) affecting Xml2js libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves xml2js is vulnerable to prototype pollution. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.5.0.

CVE-2023-0842 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-0842
GHSA Identifier GHSA-776f-qx25-q3cc
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
Affected Product Xml2js
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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:N/I:L/A:N).

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 None (C:N)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-0842

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xml2js dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

xml2js fixed: 0.5.0 
npm install xml2js@0.5.0
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 xml2js

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2023-0842, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls xml2js

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xml2js in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.5.0), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls xml2js 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 Xml2js, 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

xml2js versions before 0.5.0 allows an external attacker to edit or add new properties to an object. This is possible because the application does not properly validate incoming JSON keys, thus allowing the `__proto__` property to be edited.

CVE-2023-0842 Affected Xml2js Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
0.5.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
xml2js
npm/xml2js
npm
< 0.5.0
0.5.0

References

NVD — CVE-2023-0842 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-0842
Xml2js Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/Leonidas-from-XIV/node-xml2js/issues/663
Xml2js Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/Leonidas-from-XIV/node-xml2js/pull/603/commits/581b19a62d88f8a3c068b5a45f4542c2d6a495a5
fluidattacks.com/advisories/myers WEB
https://fluidattacks.com/advisories/myers
Xml2js Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/Leonidas-from-XIV/node-xml2js
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/03/msg00013.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-0842?
CVE-2023-0842 is a security vulnerability in Xml2js involving xml2js is vulnerable to prototype pollution under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution').
Which Xml2js versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 0.5.0 across affected packages: xml2js.
What version fixes CVE-2023-0842?
Upgrading to 0.5.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xml2js affected?
Yes, xml2js is affected in releases prior to 0.5.0. Upgrade your dependency to 0.5.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-0842?
CVE-2023-0842 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-0842?
CVE-2023-0842 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-2023-0842?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls xml2js'. 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-776f-qx25-q3cc",
  "modified" : "2025-02-13T22:08:55Z",
  "published" : "2023-04-05T21:30:24Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-0842" ],
  "summary" : "xml2js is vulnerable to prototype pollution",
  "details" : "xml2js versions before 0.5.0 allows an external attacker to edit or add new properties to an object. This is possible because the application does not properly validate incoming JSON keys, thus allowing the `__proto__` property to be edited.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "xml2js"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "0.5.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-0842"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/Leonidas-from-XIV/node-xml2js/issues/663"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/Leonidas-from-XIV/node-xml2js/pull/603/commits/581b19a62d88f8a3c068b5a45f4542c2d6a495a5"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://fluidattacks.com/advisories/myers"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/Leonidas-from-XIV/node-xml2js"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/03/msg00013.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1321" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-04-07T21:00:54Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-04-05T20:15:00Z"
  }
}