CVE-2022-46175 : What You Need to Know

A security vulnerability (CVE-2022-46175) has been identified in the JSON5 library versions 1.0.1 and 2.2.1. This vulnerability allows specially crafted strings to pollute the prototype of the resulting object when using the

parse

method, potentially leading to severe security risks.

Understanding CVE-2022-46175

JSON5 is an extension of the JSON file format, aiming to enhance readability and maintenance of JSON files by humans, such as configuration files.

What is CVE-2022-46175?

The vulnerability in JSON5 library versions 1.0.1 and 2.2.1 enables the parsing of keys named

__proto__

, which can contaminate the prototype of the returned object, posing security threats when the object is later used in trusted operations.

The Impact of CVE-2022-46175

The potential impact of this vulnerability includes denial of service, cross-site scripting, elevation of privilege, and in extreme cases, remote code execution. Although it affects a single object's prototype, the consequences can be severe depending on how the returned object is utilized and unwanted keys are filtered.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-46175

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the failure to restrict the parsing of

__proto__

keys in the

JSON5.parse

method, diverging from the behavior of

JSON.parse

in JavaScript which ignores such keys.

Affected Systems and Versions

The JSON5 library versions before 2.2.2 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating the parsing of specially crafted strings containing

__proto__

keys, an attacker can set arbitrary and unexpected keys on the object returned from

JSON5.parse

.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate this vulnerability, users should update to JSON5 library versions 1.0.2, 2.2.2, or later. Additionally, substituting

JSON5.parse

with

JSON.parse

in affected code segments can prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Developers should follow secure coding practices, validate and sanitize inputs, and implement proper filtering mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial to regularly update software libraries and dependencies to address known security issues and apply patches promptly.