@theecryptochad/merge-guard has Prototype Pollution in its deepMerge() function

Summary

## Summary `@theecryptochad/merge-guard` versions prior to 1.0.1 are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution via the `deepMerge()` function. An attacker who controls the source object can inject `__proto__` keys that mutate `Object.prototype`, affecting all objects in the Node.js runtime. ## Details The `deepMerge()` function recursively merges two objects without sanitizing reserved property keys (`__proto__`, `constructor`, `prototype`). When a source object contains a `__proto__` key, its value is assigned to `target.__proto__`, which JavaScript engines interpret as a write to `Object.prototype`. ## Proof of Concept ```js const { deepMerge } = require('@theecryptochad/merge-guard'); const payload = JSON.parse('{"__proto__":{"isAdmin":true}}'); deepMerge({}, payload); console.log({}.isAdmin); // true — Object.prototype is polluted ``` ## Impact Any application using `deepMerge()` with untrusted input (e.g. user-supplied JSON from HTTP requests, WebSocket messages, or config files) is vulnerable. An attacker can inject arbitrary properties onto `Object.prototype`, enabling privilege escalation, application logic bypass, and property injection. ## Remediation Upgrade to `@theecryptochad/merge-guard >= 1.0.1`, which adds an explicit blocklist: ```js const BLOCKED = new Set(['__proto__', 'constructor', 'prototype']); if (BLOCKED.has(key)) continue; ``` ## References - [CWE-1321: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Object Keys](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1321.html) - [OWASP: Prototype Pollution](https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/Prototype_Pollution) - [Fix commit](https://github.com/TheeCryptoChad/merge-guard/releases/tag/v1.0.1)