Critical

flattenizer vulnerable to prototype pollution

  • Disclosed: 24.05.2022
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 10:22

Overview

Prototype pollution vulnerability in ‘flattenizer’ versions 0.0.5 through 1.0.5 allows an attacker to cause a denial of service and may lead to remote code execution.

Details

The NPM module 'flattenizer' can be abused by Prototype Pollution vulnerability since the function 'unflatten()' did not check for the type of object before assigning value to the property. Due to this flaw an attacker could create a non-existent property or able to manipulate the property which leads to Denial of Service or potentially Remote code execution.

PoC Details

There is no validation before assigning the property to check whether the assigned argument is the Object's own property or not, the property polluted will be directly be assigned thereby polluting the Object prototype. Later in the code, if there is a check to validate polluted the valued would be substituted as "true" as it had been polluted.

js
var flattenizer = require("flattenizer")
flattenizer.unflatten({'__proto__.polluted': true});
console.log(polluted);

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
npm package flattenizer >= 0.0.5, < 1.1.1 1.1.1

References

CVSS score 9.8/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-1321
Platform
npm
Package
flattenizer
Disclosed
24.05.2022
Updated
11.10.2026 10:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-vq33-26pr-r4h6 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: flattenizer

All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

This is the only known vulnerability of this package.

Know which vulnerabilities affect your application

With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.

Connect your application
DockRay newsletter

Application security in your inbox

Important vulnerabilities, actionable guidance and practical advice for your applications. Choose your technologies and follow what matters to your project.

  • A daily digest of new vulnerabilities, critical ones included.
  • Notifications about important updates.
  • Practical advice on application security and monitoring.

Leave empty to receive updates for every technology.

Free to subscribe. Unsubscribe with one click in any email.