CVE-2021-23432: Mootools Prototype Pollution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-x6hx-7gh3-3q98
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CVSS 5.4
CWE-1321
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-23432 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.4) prototype pollution vulnerability (CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')) affecting Mootools libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves prototype pollution in mootools. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2021-23432 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-23432
GHSA Identifier GHSA-x6hx-7gh3-3q98
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.4
CWE Classification CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
Affected Product Mootools
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.4

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:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2021-23432

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

mootools fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install mootools@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 mootools

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2021-23432, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls mootools

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Mootools 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 mootools 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 Mootools, 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

This affects all versions of package mootools. This is due to the ability to pass untrusted input to Object.merge()

CVE-2021-23432 Affected Mootools Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
mootools
npm/mootools
npm
≤ 1.5.2

References

NVD — CVE-2021-23432 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23432
Mootools Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/vsviridov/mootools-node
snyk.io/vuln/snyk-js-mootoo... WEB
https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-MOOTOOLS-1325536

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-23432?
CVE-2021-23432 is a security vulnerability in Mootools involving Prototype Pollution in mootools under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution').
Which Mootools versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: mootools.
What version fixes CVE-2021-23432?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is mootools affected?
Yes, mootools 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-2021-23432?
CVE-2021-23432 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-23432?
CVE-2021-23432 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-2021-23432?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls mootools'. 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-x6hx-7gh3-3q98",
  "modified" : "2021-08-25T18:25:11Z",
  "published" : "2021-09-02T17:09:30Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-23432" ],
  "summary" : "Prototype Pollution in mootools",
  "details" : "This affects all versions of package mootools. This is due to the ability to pass untrusted input to Object.merge()",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "mootools"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.5.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23432"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/vsviridov/mootools-node"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-MOOTOOLS-1325536"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1321" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-08-25T18:25:11Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-08-24T09:15:00Z"
  }
}