# CVE-2021-4278: cronvel tree-kit prototype pollution

> Prototype pollution in tree-kit allows attackers to modify object prototypes, potentially leading to code execution or privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Dec 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mw4x-g2x8-qcvf

## What is CVE-2021-4278?

CVE-2021-4278 is a medium-severity vulnerability in cronvel tree-kit, published on 25 Dec 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in cronvel tree-kit up to 0.6.x. This affects an unknown part. The manipulation leads to improperly controlled modification of object prototype attributes ('prototype pollution'). Upgrading to version 0.7.0 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is a63f559c50d70e8cb2eaae670dec25d1dbc4afcd. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier VDB-216765 was assigned to this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-1321 (Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-4278?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including tree-kit. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `tree-kit` | npm | All versions | 0.7.0 |
| `tree-kit` | npm | All versions | 0.7.0 |

Products: Tree Kit Project Tree Kit.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-4278?

Upgrade tree-kit to 0.7.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2021-4278 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-4278 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in cronvel tree-kit

- [CVE-2023-38894](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38894/): tree-kit Prototype Pollution vulnerability (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-4278 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-4278 is a medium-severity vulnerability in cronvel tree-kit, published on 25 Dec 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-4278 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- tree-kit (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 0.7.0
- tree-kit (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 0.7.0

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-2021-4278/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-4278/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-4278
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-4278
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-4278

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-4278/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.