Description
JSON5 is an extension to the popular JSON file format that aims to be easier to write and maintain by hand (e.g. for config files). The `parse` method of the JSON5 library before and including versions 1.0.1 and 2.2.1 does not restrict parsing of keys named `__proto__`, allowing specially crafted strings to pollute the prototype of the resulting object. This vulnerability pollutes the prototype of the object returned by `JSON5.parse` and not the global Object prototype, which is the commonly understood definition of Prototype Pollution. However, polluting the prototype of a single object can have significant security impact for an application if the object is later used in trusted operations. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to set arbitrary and unexpected keys on the object returned from `JSON5.parse`. The actual impact will depend on how applications utilize the returned object and how they filter unwanted keys, but could include denial of service, cross-site scripting, elevation of privilege, and in extreme cases, remote code execution. `JSON5.parse` should restrict parsing of `__proto__` keys when parsing JSON strings to objects. As a point of reference, the `JSON.parse` method included in JavaScript ignores `__proto__` keys. Simply changing `JSON5.parse` to `JSON.parse` in the examples above mitigates this vulnerability. This vulnerability is patched in json5 versions 1.0.2, 2.2.2, and later.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| json5 | json5 | < 2.2.2 | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | node-json5 | 2.2.3+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | node-json5 | 2.2.3+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | node-json5 | 2.2.3+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 10 | node-json5 | 0.5.1-1+deb10u1 | DLA-3665-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | node-json5 | 0.5.1-3ubuntu0.1 | USN-6758-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | node-json5 | 2.2.0+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-6758-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | node-json5 | 0.5.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-6758-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Single Sign On 7 | rh-sso7-keycloak +1 | 18.0.6-1.redhat_00001.1.el7sso | RHSA-2023:1045, RHSA-2023:1044, RHSA-2023:1043 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | js-jquery | No fix yet | — |
Wolfi
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfi rolling | py3.14-json5 | No fix yet | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
GitHub 1 repository
-
giz-berlin/quasar-app-webpack-json5-vulnerability ★ 0 · Jan 11, 2023
Reproduction for CVE-2022-46175
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| npm | json5 | >= 2.0.0, < 2.2.2 | 2.2.2 | GHSA-9c47-m6qq-7p4h |
| npm | json5 | < 1.0.2 | 1.0.2 | GHSA-9c47-m6qq-7p4h |
Advisories 13
- WID-SEC-2026-3376 Atlassian Bamboo, Bitbucket, Confluence, Fisheye/Crucible, Jira Software und Jira Service Management: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 10, 2026
- RHSA-2023:1045 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Single Sign-On 7.6.2 security update on RHEL 9 Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 13, 2026
- RHSA-2023:1044 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Single Sign-On 7.6.2 security update on RHEL 8 Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 13, 2026
- RHSA-2023:1043 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Single Sign-On 7.6.2 security update on RHEL 7 Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 13, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-0328 Red Hat OpenShift: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Sep 3, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-1350 Splunk Splunk Enterprise: Mehrere Schwachstellen in Komponenten von Drittanbietern BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jul 1, 2026
- USN-6758-1 node-json5 vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- DLA-3665-1 node-json5 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- WID-SEC-2024-0049 Splunk Enterprise: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jan 25, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-2229 Splunk Splunk Enterprise: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 18, 2025
- WID-SEC-2023-1542 Red Hat OpenShift: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 18, 2025
- WID-SEC-2024-3678 Atlassian Confluence: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Dec 10, 2024
- WID-SEC-2024-0528 Dell Data Protection Advisor: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Feb 29, 2024
References
- https://github.com/json5/json5/security/advisories/GHSA-9c47-m6qq-7p4h
- https://github.com/json5/json5/issues/199
- https://github.com/json5/json5/issues/295
- https://github.com/json5/json5/pull/298
- FEDORA-2023-e7297a4aeb vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20231125 [SECURITY] [DLA 3665-1] node-json5 security update mailing-list