CVE-2021-23448Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Object prototype modification via unfiltered configuration merge

Published Oct 11, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Prototype pollution in Jarrad Seers config-handler through 2.0.3 allows attackers to alter inherited object properties via configuration files. The ConfigHandler constructor loads package.json and environment configuration modules, then passes their exported objects to object-merger without filtering constructor.prototype keys. Exploitation requires influence over a loaded file; the demonstrated result adds an attacker-chosen property to Object.prototype, while downstream impact depends on inherited-property use in the consuming Node.js application.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.19%
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 Jarrad Seers config-handler through 2.0.3 allows attackers to alter inherited object properties via configuration files. The ConfigHandler constructor loads package.json and environment configuration modules, then passes their exported objects to object-merger without filtering constructor.prototype keys. Exploitation requires influence over a loaded file; the demonstrated result adds an attacker-chosen property to Object.prototype, while downstream impact depends on inherited-property use in the consuming Node.js application.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23448
Published
Oct 11, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Jarrad Seers
Product
config-handler
Classifications
CWE-913, CWE-1321, CAPEC-77, CAPEC-1, CAPEC-180
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 11, 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?

Jarrad Seers · config-handlerversion=0 <unspecified

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5Snyk CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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.

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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-913Improper Control of Dynamically-Managed Code Resources
CWE-1321Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
CAPEC-77Manipulating User-Controlled Variables
CAPEC-1Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs
CAPEC-180Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels

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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