CVE-2022-41713: Security Vulnerabilities Found in deep-object-diff Version 1.1.

In today's information age, it is essential for software developers to be aware of the security vulnerabilities in their code. One such vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-41713, has been found in deep-object-diff version 1.1.. This package is widely used by developers to efficiently compare differences between JavaScript objects. Unfortunately, the vulnerability allows an external attacker to edit or add new properties to an object. This post will walk you through the details of this vulnerability, provide a code snippet to demonstrate the exploit and offer links to original references for further study.

Background

deep-object-diff version 1.1. is designed to find differences between two JavaScript objects. Despite its usefulness, the package has a security flaw that allows an attacker to exploit the '__proto__' property – a key component in JavaScript's prototype chain. By manipulating the '__proto__' property, attackers can alter behavior in the application or leak sensitive information. The vulnerability lies in how the application fails to properly validate incoming JSON keys, allowing the modification of the '__proto__' property.

Exploit Details

Here's a simple example to showcase how the exploit works. The code snippet below demonstrates how an attacker can inject malicious property changes into an object using deep-object-diff:

// Importing the deep-object-diff package
const diff = require('deep-object-diff');

// Defining two objects to compare
const object1 = {
  id: 1,
  name: 'Alice'
};

const object2 = {
  id: 1,
  name: 'Alice',
  '__proto__': {
    isAdmin: true
  }
};

// Using deep-object-diff to find differences in the objects
const differences = diff.diff(object1, object2);

// After applying the deep-object-diff to find differences, the "object1" will now have an "isAdmin" property set to "true"
console.log(object1.isAdmin); // Output: true

In the example above, both objects, object1 and object2, have the same properties – id and name. However, object2 has an additional __proto__ property with an isAdmin key. When utilizing deep-object-diff to find differences between the objects, the application alters the prototype chain, thereby assigning the isAdmin property to object1. This exploit, if left unaddressed, can have severe consequences for the security of the application.

For a deeper understanding of this vulnerability, refer to the following sources

1. NVD (National Vulnerability Database) CVE-2022-41713 page:  https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-41713
2. CVE record: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-41713
3. deep-object-diff GitHub repository: https://github.com/mattphillips/deep-object-diff

Mitigation Strategies

Although CVE-2022-41713 is a serious vulnerability, developers can take measures to mitigate its risks. One possible solution is to update to the latest version of deep-object-diff if the package maintainers have released a patch. Alternatively, it's crucial to sanitize and validate all incoming data, especially JSON keys, to ensure that the '__proto__' property remains unaltered by external sources.

Conclusion

It is essential for developers to stay informed about security vulnerabilities like CVE-2022-41713 to protect their applications and maintain user trust. By understanding the exploit details and applying proper mitigation strategies, developers can minimize the adverse impact of such security issues. Always remember that security is an ongoing process and not a one-time fix. Stay vigilant and ensure your application remains safe from such vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 11/03/2022 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/05/2022 01:38:00 UTC