Prototype Pollution in Open MCT Before 3.1.0
CVE-2023-45282
What is CVE-2023-45282?
CVE-2023-45282 is a vulnerability identified in NASA's Open MCT, a web-based framework designed for managing and visualizing space mission data. This vulnerability specifically allows for prototype pollution through unauthorized import actions before version 3.1.0. Prototype pollution can lead to unintended behavior in applications by altering the prototype of a global object, potentially enabling an attacker to inject malicious functionality into the application's JavaScript. If left unaddressed, this flaw poses risks to organizations using Open MCT, jeopardizing data integrity and the functionality of mission-critical applications.
Technical Details
The vulnerability arises from how Open MCT handles import actions, which may allow malicious inputs to modify the application’s prototype chain. This manipulation affects how objects behave within the application, as it can change properties or methods globally. Prototype pollution can lead to various issues such as denial of service, data manipulation, or even arbitrary code execution in environments that rely on the affected library. The vulnerability has been documented in versions prior to 3.1.0, and users are encouraged to upgrade to this version or later to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Potential Impact of CVE-2023-45282
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Data Integrity Risks: The ability to manipulate the prototype chain can lead to unintentional data modifications, affecting the accuracy of mission-critical information handled by Open MCT. This can result in erroneous decisions based on compromised data.
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Application Functionality Disruption: By altering the behavior of core objects within Open MCT, an attacker could cause operational failures, leading to disruptions in data processing and visualization tasks essential for mission operations.
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Exploitation Potential: While there are currently no reported exploits in the wild, the nature of prototype pollution could allow a skilled attacker to devise methods for leveraging this vulnerability, which may include injecting malicious code that can further compromise system security.