GHSA-mmx7-hfxf-jppx Axios: Prototype pollution gadgets can alter axios request construction
Summaryaxios is vulnerable to read-side prototype-pollution gadgets when `Object.prototype` has already been polluted by another vulnerability or dependency. The most broadly reachable issue is in the bodyless method aliases: `axios.get()`, `axios.delete()`, `axios.head()`, and `axios.options()` read inherited `data` before config normalization, causing attacker-controlled body data to be sent on requests that did not explicitly set a body.Additional low-level paths affect consumers that call exported adapters/helpers directly with plain config objects. In those cases, inherited `proxy` or `paramsSerializer` values can influence request routing or URL serialization. These low-level paths are not reproduced through normal `axios.get()` usage on `1.15.2+`.ImpactAn attacker who can first pollute `Object.prototype` can cause axios to send attacker-controlled request bodies on bodyless method aliases. This can corrupt request semantics where the receiving service processes bodies on `GET`, `DELETE`, `HEAD`, or `OPTIONS`.For direct low-level Node HTTP adapter usage, inherited `proxy` can route requests through an attacker-controlled proxy. Depending on axios version, target scheme, and proxy behavior, this can expose request URLs, headers, and bodies or allow traffic modification.For direct `resolveConfig` or browser-adapter helper usage, inherited `paramsSerializer` can be invoked with request params, allowing attacker-controlled URL serialization. This was not reproduced through normal high-level axios calls on `1.15.2+`.Affected FunctionalityAffected normal API:`axios.get(url[, config])``axios.delete(url[, config])``axios.head(url[, config])``axios.options(url[, config])`Affected low-level usage:Direct calls to `axios/lib/adapters/http.js` or `axios/unsafe/adapters/http.js` with plain configs and no own `proxy`.Direct calls to `axios/unsafe/helpers/resolveConfig.js` or direct browser adapter/helper paths with plain configs and no own `paramsSerializer`.Unaffected or corrected scope:Normal `axios.get()` calls on `1.15.2+` did not reproduce the `proxy` or `paramsSerializer` gadgets because `mergeConfig()` returns a null-prototype config and uses own-property reads.Technical Details`lib/core/Axios.js` constructs aliases for bodyless methods and copies `data` with `(config || {}).data` before config normalization. If `Object.prototype.data` is polluted, this inherited value becomes an own `data` property in the merged request config and is sent by the adapter.`lib/core/mergeConfig.js` in `1.15.2+` returns a null-prototype config and uses `hasOwnProp` guards, which prevents normal high-level requests from inheriting polluted `proxy` and `paramsSerializer` values after merge. This is why those two reporter claims do not reproduce through normal `axios.get()` on `1.15.2` or `1.16.1`.The low-level adapter/helper paths can still receive plain configs directly. In that usage, direct reads of `config.proxy` in the Node HTTP adapter and `config.paramsSerializer` in affected `resolveConfig()` versions can consume inherited polluted values.Proof of Concept of AttackExpected result: a request body is sent even though the caller did not explicitly set `config.data`.WorkaroundsAvoid processing untrusted input with libraries or code paths that can pollute `Object.prototype`. As a defense-in-depth mitigation before an axios fix is available, explicitly pass `data: undefined` on bodyless method aliases when running in a process where prototype pollution is a concern.SummaryThree prototype pollution read-side gadgets in axios bypass the `own()` hasOwnProp guard pattern, allowing a polluted `Object.prototype` to hijack outbound requests.DetailsThe [`own()` helper](https://github.com/axios/axios/blob/v1.15.2/lib/adapters/http.js#L342) was introduced after GHSA-q8qp-cvcw-x6jj to prevent polluted prototype properties from reaching security-sensitive config reads. Three paths were missed:`config.proxy` at [http.js:715](https://github.com/axios/axios/blob/v1.15.2/lib/adapters/http.js#L715) goes straight into [`setProxy()`](https://github.com/axios/axios/blob/v1.15.2/lib/adapters/http.js#L197). A polluted `Object.prototype.proxy` reroutes outbound requests through an attacker-controlled proxy, exposing Authorization headers and full request URLs.`(config || {}).data` at [Axios.js:248](https://github.com/axios/axios/blob/v1.15.2/lib/core/Axios.js#L248) covers GET, HEAD, DELETE, OPTIONS. Even without explicit body, polluted value becomes the body. I got injected payloads on 3 of 4 method types in testing.`config.paramsSerializer` at [resolveConfig.js:32](https://github.com/axios/axios/blob/v1.15.2/lib/helpers/resolveConfig.js#L32) is three lines below the [`own()` definition that was supposed to protect it](https://github.com/axios/axios/blob/v1.15.2/lib/helpers/resolveConfig.js#L15). A polluted  function onto `Object.prototype.paramsSerializer` gets called with the request params on every request that has query strings.I read up on the threat model and I believe T-R4b identifies this exact class and notes that config-read paths must use `hasOwnProp` guards. These three seem to predate or were missed by that coverage.PoCRan against `axios@1.15.2` on `node:22-slim` in Docker. Clean install, no other deps.ImpactAny app with a polluted prototype (common via transitive deps like lodash, qs, minimist) should be affected. Gadget 1 steals credentials and redirects traffic. Gadget 2 corrupts request semantics. Gadget 3 gives the attacker arbitrary control over URL construction and a data exfiltration channel. All three fire silently on normal application code that never touches proxy, data, or `paramsSerializer` directly.
CVSS v4.0 score: 6.3