CVE-2024-27307

JSONata expression can pollute the "Object" prototype

References

https://github.com/jsonata-js/jsonata/releases/tag/v2.0.4

Credit

Thank you to Albert Pedersen of Cloudflare for disclosing this issue.

In JSONata versions >= 1.4.0, < 1.8.7 and >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.4, a malicious expression can use the transform operator to override properties on the Object constructor and prototype. This may lead to denial of service, remote code execution or other unexpected behavior in applications that evaluate user-provided JSONata expressions.

CVE-2024-27307 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (1.8.7, 2.0.4); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

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This issue has been fixed in JSONata versions >= 1.8.7 and >= 2.0.4. Applications that evaluate user-provided expressions should update ASAP to prevent exploitation. The following patch can be applied if updating is not possible.

--- a/src/jsonata.js
+++ b/src/jsonata.js
@@ -1293,6 +1293,13 @@ var jsonata = (function() {
                 }
                 for(var ii = 0; ii < matches.length; ii++) {
                     var match = matches[ii];
+                    if (match && (match.isPrototypeOf(result) || match instanceof Object.constructor)) {
+                        throw {
+                            code: "D1010",
+                            stack: (new Error()).stack,
+                            position: expr.position
+                        };
+                    }
                     // evaluate the update value for each match
                     var update = await evaluate(expr.update, match, environment);
                     // update must be an object
@@ -1539,7 +1546,7 @@ var jsonata = (function() {
                 if (typeof err.token == 'undefined' && typeof proc.token !== 'undefined') {
                     err.token = proc.token;
                 }
-                err.position = proc.position;
+                err.position = proc.position || err.position;
             }
             throw err;
         }
@@ -1972,6 +1979,7 @@ var jsonata = (function() {
         "T1007": "Attempted to partially apply a non-function. Did you mean ${{{token}}}?",
         "T1008": "Attempted to partially apply a non-function",
         "D1009": "Multiple key definitions evaluate to same key: {{value}}",
+        "D1010": "Attempted to access the Javascript object prototype", // Javascript specific 
         "T1010": "The matcher function argument passed to function {{token}} does not return the correct object structure",
         "T2001": "The left side of the {{token}} operator must evaluate to a number",
         "T2002": "The right side of the {{token}} operator must evaluate to a number",

1. What is CVE-2024-27307? CVE-2024-27307 is a critical-severity security vulnerability in jsonata (npm), affecting versions >= 1.4.0, < 1.8.7. It is fixed in 1.8.7, 2.0.4.
2. How severe is CVE-2024-27307? CVE-2024-27307 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of jsonata are affected by CVE-2024-27307? jsonata (npm) versions >= 1.4.0, < 1.8.7 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2024-27307? Yes. CVE-2024-27307 is fixed in 1.8.7, 2.0.4. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2024-27307 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2024-27307 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2024-27307 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2024-27307?
   • Upgrade jsonata to 1.8.7 or later
   • Upgrade jsonata to 2.0.4 or later

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