CVE-2021-23497Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Service interruption via prototype-key array coercion

Published Feb 4, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Prototype pollution in @strikeentco/set before 1.0.2 allows attackers to interrupt Node.js services via crafted property paths. The set function compares a path segment to proto with strict equality, so a nested array that stringifies to that key evades the guard and redirects a write to Object.prototype. Applications must pass attacker-controlled array path components; prototype corruption can trigger exceptions, while code execution requires an application-specific gadget.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability3.73%
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 @strikeentco/set before 1.0.2 allows attackers to interrupt Node.js services via crafted property paths. The set function compares a path segment to proto with strict equality, so a nested array that stringifies to that key evades the guard and redirects a write to Object.prototype. Applications must pass attacker-controlled array path components; prototype corruption can trigger exceptions, while code execution requires an application-specific gadget.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23497
Published
Feb 4, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Alexey Bystrov
Product
@strikeentco/set
Classifications
CWE-1321, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 4, 2022CVE 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=unspecified <1.0.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Alexey Bystrov · @strikeentco/setversion=unspecified <1.0.2

Published CVSS scores

7.1SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:P
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.5SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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