CVE-2022-24999Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Process hang via unchecked __proto__ query keys

Published Nov 26, 2022 · Updated Apr 29, 2025

Prototype pollution in affected qs releases before 6.10.3 allows remote attackers to hang Node.js processes via crafted query strings. The parseObject routine assigned recursively parsed values to attacker-controlled property names without excluding proto, creating array-like objects with attacker-set length values. In typical Express configurations, an unauthenticated query can reach the parser, and later string or array operations on the resulting object hang the Node.js process.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability15.06%
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 affected qs releases before 6.10.3 allows remote attackers to hang Node.js processes via crafted query strings. The parseObject routine assigned recursively parsed values to attacker-controlled property names without excluding proto, creating array-like objects with attacker-set length values. In typical Express configurations, an unauthenticated query can reach the parser, and later string or array operations on the resulting object hang the Node.js process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-24999
Published
Nov 26, 2022
Updated
Apr 29, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-1321, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 26, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 29, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS: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.

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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-1321Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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