CVE-2024-57074
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a prototype pollution vulnerability in the lib.merge function of xe-utils v3.5.31, which allows attackers to cause Denial of Service (DoS) by sending specially crafted payloads. Any application using this vulnerable version of xe-utils is affected, particularly Node.js applications that process untrusted user input through the merge function.
💻 Affected Systems
- xe-utils
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete service unavailability due to application crashes or resource exhaustion, potentially affecting downstream services and users.
Likely Case
Application instability or crashes when processing malicious payloads, leading to intermittent service disruptions.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper input validation and sandboxing, though some performance degradation may occur.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires understanding of prototype pollution and ability to send crafted payloads to the merge function. No public exploit code is currently available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: v3.5.32 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/x-extends/xe-utils
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update xe-utils to version 3.5.32 or later using npm: npm update xe-utils
2. Verify the update with: npm list xe-utils
3. Test application functionality after update
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation and Sanitization
allImplement strict input validation for data passed to the merge function to reject suspicious payloads.
Object.freeze on Prototypes
allUse Object.freeze(Object.prototype) to prevent prototype pollution attacks.
Object.freeze(Object.prototype);
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict input validation and sanitization for all data passed to the merge function
- Use alternative merge functions or libraries that are not vulnerable to prototype pollution
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check package.json or run: npm list xe-utils | grep xe-utilsCheck Version:
npm list xe-utils | grep xe-utilsVerify Fix Applied:
Verify installed version is 3.5.32 or later: npm list xe-utils📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes or abnormal termination logs
- Unusual memory consumption patterns
- Error messages related to prototype pollution or merge function failures
Network Indicators:
- Unusually large or malformed payloads sent to endpoints using merge functionality
- Repeated requests causing application instability
SIEM Query:
source="application.logs" AND ("prototype pollution" OR "merge function" OR "xe-utils") AND ("crash" OR "error" OR "exception")