CVE-2020-7743 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2020-7743, also known as Prototype Pollution, affects the mathjs package versions prior to 7.5.1. It is a high severity vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate the prototype of objects.

Understanding CVE-2020-7743

Prototype Pollution is a vulnerability that enables attackers to inject properties into existing JavaScript language construct prototypes.

What is CVE-2020-7743?

The package mathjs before version 7.5.1 is vulnerable to Prototype Pollution through the deepExtend function used during configuration updates.

The Impact of CVE-2020-7743

This vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.3, indicating a high severity level. The impact includes low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, with no privileges required for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-7743

Prototype Pollution in the mathjs package.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to modify the prototype of objects, leading to potential code execution or data manipulation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: mathjs
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions Affected: < 7.5.1 (unspecified version type)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious properties into the prototype of objects, potentially leading to code execution or data manipulation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2020-7743 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update mathjs to version 7.5.1 or higher to mitigate the Prototype Pollution vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates from the mathjs package maintainers.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation to sanitize user inputs and prevent malicious data injection.
Conduct regular security audits and code reviews to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by the mathjs package maintainers promptly to address security vulnerabilities.