CVE-2021-23396Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Prototype pollution via unsafe recursive merge

Published Jun 17, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Prototype pollution in all lutils versions allows attackers to modify Object.prototype properties through crafted merge inputs. The main merge function recursively copies attacker-controlled proto keys into a destination object without filtering prototype-mutating properties. A consuming application must pass attacker-controlled objects to merge; the resulting inherited properties can alter application behavior, while downstream impact depends on available code paths.

CVSS severity5.6
Medium
EPSS probability1.00%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Prototype pollution in all lutils versions allows attackers to modify Object.prototype properties through crafted merge inputs. The main merge function recursively copies attacker-controlled proto keys into a destination object without filtering prototype-mutating properties. A consuming application must pass attacker-controlled objects to merge; the resulting inherited properties can alter application behavior, while downstream impact depends on available code paths.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23396
Published
Jun 17, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Lutils Project
Product
lutils
Classifications
CWE-1321, CAPEC-1, CAPEC-180, CAPEC-77
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 17, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <unspecified

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Lutils Project · lutilsversion=0 <unspecified

Published CVSS scores

9.8GitLab Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.1SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
5.6SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1321Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
CAPEC-1Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs
CAPEC-180Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels
CAPEC-77Manipulating User-Controlled Variables

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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