flat-to-nested: Prototype pollution in flat-to-nested convert() via __proto__ parent/id key
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Tampering
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-915.
Summary
flat-to-nested converts a hierarchy from a flat representation to a nested representation. Prior to 1.1.2, FlatToNested.prototype.convert in index.js uses attacker-influenced id and parent record fields directly as keys in the plain temp and pendingChildOf objects. When parent or id is __proto__, temp[parent] can resolve to Object.prototype, and initPush() can write attacker-controlled data to the global children prototype property while existing prototype methods remain intact. Any application that passes attacker-influenced flat records to convert() can therefore expose unrelated objects to polluted inherited state, causing application-logic corruption or denial of service and potentially enabling greater impact when a downstream prototype-pollution gadget is present. The constructor and prototype strings are also unsafe inherited-key values in the same lookup design. This issue is fixed in version 1.1.2.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| joaonuno | flat-to-nested-js | before 1.1.2 | 1.1.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | flat-to-nested (npm) | before 1.1.2 | 1.1.2 | Patch available | GHSA-hp36-v28f-w3r4 |
- flat-to-nested-js Vendorjoaonuno Affected before 1.1.2 Fixed in 1.1.2 Patch available CNA
- flat-to-nested (npm) Vendor— Affected before 1.1.2 Fixed in 1.1.2 Patch available GHSA-hp36-v28f-w3r4
Remediation
- Fix · CNA flat-to-nested-js (joaonuno) Fixed in 1.1.2
- Fix · GHSA-hp36-v28f-w3r4 flat-to-nested (npm) Fixed in 1.1.2 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-55091
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hp36-v28f-w3r4
References
Sources
- CVE-2026-55091 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-55091 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hp36-v28f-w3r4 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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