CVE-2025-57820

1. devalue.parse allows __proto__ to be set

A string passed to devalue.parse could represent an object with a __proto__ property, which would assign a prototype to an object while allowing properties to be overwritten:

class Vector {
  constructor(x, y) {
    this.x = x;
    this.y = y;
  }

  get magnitude() {
    return (this.x ** 2 + this.y ** 2) ** 0.5;
  }
}

const payload = `[{"x":1,"y":2,"magnitude":3,"__proto__":4},3,4,"nope",["Vector",5],[6,7],8,9]`;

const vector = devalue.parse(payload, {
  Vector: ([x, y]) => new Vector(x, y)
});

console.log("Is vector", vector instanceof Vector); // true
console.log(vector.x) // 3
console.log(vector.y) // 4
console.log(vector.magnitude); // "nope" instead of 5

2. devalue.parse allows array prototype methods to be assigned to object

In a payload constructed with devalue.stringify, values are represented as array indices, where the array contains the 'hydrated' values:

devalue.stringify({ message: 'hello' }); // [{"message":1},"hello"]

devalue.parse does not check that an index is numeric, which means that it could assign an array prototype method to a property instead:

const object = devalue.parse('[{"toString":"push"}]');
object.toString(); // 0

This could be used by a creative attacker to bypass server-side validation.

Kodem intelligence

1. What is CVE-2025-57820? CVE-2025-57820 is a high-severity security vulnerability in devalue (npm), affecting versions < 5.3.2. It is fixed in 5.3.2.
2. Which versions of devalue are affected by CVE-2025-57820? devalue (npm) versions < 5.3.2 is affected.
3. Is there a fix for CVE-2025-57820? Yes. CVE-2025-57820 is fixed in 5.3.2. Upgrade to this version or later.
4. Is CVE-2025-57820 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-57820 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
5. What actually determines whether CVE-2025-57820 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.
6. How do I fix CVE-2025-57820? Upgrade devalue to 5.3.2 or later.