# CVE-2020-7778: Prototype Pollution

> Attackers can exploit prototype pollution in the systeminformation library to execute arbitrary OS commands on the host system.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P/RL:O`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Nov 2020
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8j36-q8x7-pm6q, SNYK-JS-SYSTEMINFORMATION-1043753

## What is CVE-2020-7778?

CVE-2020-7778 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in systeminformation, published on 26 Nov 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

This affects the package systeminformation before 4.30.2. The attacker can overwrite the properties and functions of an object, which can lead to executing OS commands.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-7778?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including systeminformation. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `systeminformation` | npm | All versions | 4.30.2 |
| `systeminformation` | npm | All versions | 4.30.2 |

Products: Systeminformation Systeminformation.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-7778?

Upgrade systeminformation to 4.30.2 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-7778 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-7778 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in systeminformation

- [CVE-2023-42810](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42810/): systeminformation SSID Command Injection Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-21388](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21388/): Command Injection Vulnerability in systeminformation (high 8.9)
- [CVE-2026-26318](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-26318/): systeminformation has Command Injection via Unsanitized `locate` Output in `versions()` (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-7752](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7752/): Command Injection (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-50289](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-50289/): systeminformation: OS command injection in networkInterfaces() via interfaces(5) source-directive path on Linux (high 8.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-7778 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-7778 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in systeminformation, published on 26 Nov 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-7778 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- systeminformation (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 4.30.2
- systeminformation (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 4.30.2

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7778/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7778/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7778
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7778
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-7778

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7778/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.