Authorization bypass via prototype pollution
Published Jun 12, 2026 · Updated Jun 12, 2026
Prototype pollution in ApostropheCMS 4.30.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to bypass piece-type REST API authorization. apos.util.set() follows attacker-controlled dot-notation segments from PATCH operators without rejecting proto, so assignments reach Object.prototype and supply an inherited publicApiProjection value. Editor-level credentials are required to poison the process; publicApiCheck() then skips its gate for subsequent unauthenticated piece-type requests until restart.
Summary
What happened
Prototype pollution in ApostropheCMS 4.30.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to bypass piece-type REST API authorization. apos.util.set() follows attacker-controlled dot-notation segments from PATCH operators without rejecting proto, so assignments reach Object.prototype and supply an inherited publicApiProjection value. Editor-level credentials are required to poison the process; publicApiCheck() then skips its gate for subsequent unauthenticated piece-type requests until restart.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-53609
- Published
- Jun 12, 2026
- Updated
- Jun 12, 2026
- Vendor
- Apostrophe Technologies
- Product
- ApostropheCMS
- Classifications
- CWE-1321, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 12, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=<= 4.30.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- GHSA-6h5j-32cf-4253 proof of conceptfunctional · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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