CVE-2023-3696: Mongoose Mongoose Prototype Pollution Vulnerability Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9m93-w8w6-76hh
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CVSS 10.0
CWE-1321
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-3696 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 10.0) mongoose prototype pollution vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')) affecting Mongoose libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves mongoose prototype pollution vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 7.3.3, 6.11.3, 5.13.20.

CVE-2023-3696 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-3696
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9m93-w8w6-76hh
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 10.0
CWE Classification CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
Affected Product Mongoose
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 10.0

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:H).

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

How to Fix CVE-2023-3696

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

mongoose fixed: 7.3.3 
npm install mongoose@7.3.3
mongoose fixed: 6.11.3 
npm install mongoose@6.11.3
mongoose fixed: 5.13.20 
npm install mongoose@5.13.20
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 mongoose

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2023-3696, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls mongoose

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Mongoose in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 7.3.3), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls mongoose 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 Mongoose, 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 in GitHub repository automattic/mongoose prior to 7.3.3, 6.11.3, and 5.13.20.

CVE-2023-3696 Affected Mongoose Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
7.3.36.11.35.13.20
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
mongoose
npm/mongoose
npm
≥ 7.0.0
< 7.3.3
7.3.3
mongoose
npm/mongoose
npm
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.11.3
6.11.3
mongoose
npm/mongoose
npm
< 5.13.20
5.13.20

References

NVD — CVE-2023-3696 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3696
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose/commit/e29578d2ec18a68aeb4717d66dd5eb66bae53de1
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose/commit/f1efabf350522257364aa5c2cb36e441cf08f1a2
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/automattic/mongoose/commit/305ce4ff789261df7e3f6e72363d0703e025f80d
Mongoose Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose
Mongoose Release RELEASE
https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose/releases/tag/7.3.3
huntr.dev/bounties/1eef5a72-f... WEB
https://huntr.dev/bounties/1eef5a72-f6ab-4f61-b31d-fc66f5b4b467

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-3696?
CVE-2023-3696 is a security vulnerability in Mongoose involving Mongoose Prototype Pollution vulnerability under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution').
Which Mongoose versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 7.3.3, 6.11.3, 5.13.20 across affected packages: mongoose.
What version fixes CVE-2023-3696?
Upgrading to 7.3.3, 6.11.3, 5.13.20 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is mongoose affected?
Yes, mongoose is affected in releases prior to 7.3.3, 6.11.3, 5.13.20. Upgrade your dependency to 7.3.3, 6.11.3, 5.13.20 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-3696?
CVE-2023-3696 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 10.0 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-3696?
CVE-2023-3696 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-2023-3696?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls mongoose'. 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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  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-9m93-w8w6-76hh",
  "modified" : "2023-07-18T16:57:08Z",
  "published" : "2023-07-17T03:30:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-3696" ],
  "summary" : "Mongoose Prototype Pollution vulnerability",
  "details" : "Prototype Pollution in GitHub repository automattic/mongoose prior to 7.3.3, 6.11.3, and 5.13.20.",
  "severity" : [ {
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  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
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    "url" : "https://github.com/Automattic/mongoose/commit/e29578d2ec18a68aeb4717d66dd5eb66bae53de1"
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    "url" : "https://huntr.dev/bounties/1eef5a72-f6ab-4f61-b31d-fc66f5b4b467"
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  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
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    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-18T16:57:08Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-07-17T01:15:08Z"
  }
}